On April 30, 2024, the Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) received a 911 call at 1:26 p.m. for hikers in need of assistance on the Kaau Crater Trail in Palolo Valley and responded with 5 units staffed with 13 personnel. The first unit arrived on scene at 1:35 p.m. and established command. A second-arriving unit secured a nearby landing zone to prepare for air operations.

It was reported that one male hiker in his 20s was suffering from extreme exhaustion and could not descend the trail on his own. Air 1 inserted rescue personnel to the hiker’s location where they conducted a medical assessment and provided basic life support. The hiker was then airlifted to the nearby landing zone where medical care was transferred to the Emergency Medical Services at 2:29 p.m.

The remaining two hikers in the party, both males in their 20s, were escorted to a lower, remote landing zone by HFD personnel. From there, both were airlifted to the landing zone where they declined medical attention.

All HFD personnel were accounted for with no injuries.