On August 9, 2025, the Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) received a 911 call at 7:09 p.m. and responded to a swimmer in distress at Spitting Caves in Hawaiꞌi Kai with 7 units staffed with approximately 22 personnel. The first unit arrived on scene at 7:16 p.m., established command and descended the trail to the water’s edge.

It was reported that a male swimmer in his 30s was swept off of the rocks and unable to swim back to shore due to the large surf and impending darkness. A Good Samaritan threw a rescue tube to the swimmer in distress. Two HFD personnel entered the water and arrived at the swimmer’s location, about 200 yards offshore, at 7:22 p.m. At the same time, HFD rescue personnel launched the rescue boat from the Hawaiꞌi Kai boat ramp while Air 1 provided light to assist with navigating in darkness and through large surf. The HFD rescue boat then brought the uninjured swimmer and two HFD personnel safely to shore. Medical care was transferred to Emergency Medical Services at 8:04 p.m.

All HFD personnel were accounted for with no reports of injuries.