On August 15, 2026, the Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) received a 911 call at 4:55 p.m. and responded to a stranded hiker on the Lulumahu Falls Trail in Nuuanu with 5 units staffed with 14 personnel. The first unit arrived on scene at 5:14 p.m. and proceeded up the trail on foot. The second-arriving unit followed and at 5:47 p.m. both units were in voice contact with the hiker.
It was reported that a male hiker became stranded on the trail and was unable to descend on his own. HFD personnel arrived at the base of the waterfall at 5:52 p.m. where they made visual contact of the hiker approximately 80 feet up just to the side of the falls. Due to extremely poor lighting, rough terrain, steep angles, increasing wind and rain, and his proximity to the falls which had swollen well beyond its normal volume, rescuers needed rope rescue equipment and 8 personnel to make it to the hiker’s side at 6:23 p.m. HFD personnel conducted a primary medical assessment and prepared the hiker to be lowered down the falls. Once lowered, rescuers at the base of the falls confirmed that the hiker was able to walk then guided him to the trailhead at 7:12 p.m. where he declined medical treatment.
At 7:55 p.m., all HFD personnel were off the trail and accounted for with no injuries.