On December 28, 2025, the Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) received a 911 call at 4:27 p.m. and responded to an injured hiker on the mountain summit above the Kaau Crater Trail in Palolo with 5 units staffed with 13 personnel. The first unit arrived on scene at 4:34 p.m. and secured a landing zone nearby to prepare for air operations.
It was reported that a male in his 20’s was hiking with two others for approximately five hours, became weak, and could not continue on his own. Air 1 located the hikers near the summit and lowered rescuer personnel nearby. They arrived at the injured hiker’s side at 5:07 p.m., performed an initial medical assessment, and provided basic life support treatment. Rescue personnel assisted the injured hiker to an open area and prepared him to be hoisted into Air 1. Air 1 then transported the hiker to the nearby landing zone, where medical care was transferred to the Emergency Medical Services at 5:31 p.m.