On February 21, 2025, the Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) received a 911 call at 8:29 p.m. for lost hikers on the Mount Kaala Trail in Waianae and responded with 5 units staffed with 14 personnel. The first unit arrived on scene at 8:54 p.m., secured a landing zone and prepared for air operations.

It was reported that two adult female hikers became lost and were unable to exit the trail on their own. HFD rescue personnel were inserted by Air 1 near the hiker’s location at 9:27 p.m. Rescue personnel made contact with the hikers, and performed a medical assessment to confirm there were no injuries. Due to darkness and steep terrain Air operations were suspended at night and the HFD left one rescue personnel with the hikers overnight. The next day, the HFD resumed the rescue at sun up and relocated the hikers and the rescue personnel on foot to an area where Air 1 could safely retrieve them. Both hikers were safely transported via Air 1 to the landing zone by 7:23 a.m.