On August 16, 2026, the Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) received a 911 call at 7:24 p.m. and responded to an injured hiker on the Makaua Hidden Garden Trail in Kaaawa with 8 units staffed with 22 personnel. The first rescue unit arrived on scene at 7:38 p.m. and ascended the trail on foot. A second-arriving unit was assigned to secure a nearby landing zone to prepare for possible air operations.
It was reported that a female hiker in her 30s suffered a lower left leg injury while hiking. HFD personnel reached the hiker’s location at 8:57 p.m. where they conducted a medical assessment, provided basic life support, and prepared her for extraction. A good samaritan escorted the hiker’s two companions off the trail at 9:24 p.m. Due to the terrain and thick vegetation, additional personnel with chainsaws were needed to clear a safe path for the injured hiker and rescuers. The hiker was then safely carried down the trail where medical care was transferred to Emergency Medical Services at 10:25 p.m.
All HFD personnel were accounted for with no injuries.