On April 19, 2024, the Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) received a 911 call at 4:32 p.m. for an ill hiker on the Kaunala Trail in Pupukea and responded with 6 units staffed with 17 personnel. The first unit arrived on scene at 4:46 p.m., established command and secured a landing zone for air operations.

It was reported that a male and female, both in their 30s, had been hiking for approximately 4 hours when one of the hikers became ill and was unable to descend the trail on their own. Rescue personnel were inserted near the hiker’s location via Air 1 and made contact with the hikers at 5:21 p.m. After conducting a medical assessment, Air 1 landed at nearby clearing so they could be loaded into the aircraft and safely airlifted to the landing zone 5:49 p.m.

All HFD personnel were accounted for with no injuries.