On July 22, 2026, the Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) received a 911 call at 11:44 a.m. and responded to a hiker in distress on the Lēʻahi (Diamond Head Crater) Trail in Kahala with 6 units staffed with 18 personnel. The first unit arrived on scene at 11:55 a.m. and ascended the trail on foot. The second-arriving unit secured a nearby landing zone to prepare for air operations.
It was reported a female hiker in her teens was experiencing a medical emergency at the top of the trail and was unable to descend on her own. Fire fighters reached the hiker at 12:09 p.m., conducted a medical assessment, provided basic life support, and prepared her for air extraction. Air 1 arrived and the hiker was then safely airlifted to the nearby landing zone. Medical care was transferred to Emergency Medical Services at 12:31 p.m.
During the operation of rescuing the initial hiker, at 12:28 p.m. fire fighters identified a second male hiker in his 30ʻs in need of rescue assistance. The second hiker was also experiencing a medical complaint and was unable to descend on his own. Fire fighters conducted a medical assessment, provided basic life support, and prepared him for air extraction. Air 1 returned and the second hiker was then safely airlifted to the nearby landing zone. Medical care was transferred to Emergency Medical Services at 12:44 p.m.
All HFD personnel were accounted for with no injuries.