On November 9, 2026, the Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) received a 911 call at 4:08 p.m. and responded to a confined space rescue at 99-405 Waoala Place in Aiea with 6 units staffed with approximately 24 personnel. The first unit arrived on scene at 4:17 p.m. to find a man trapped in a hole in his backyard.
It was reported that a man in his 70s fell into a hole, possibly an old cesspool, approximately 30 feet deep and 15 inches wide. The trapped man was injured, but conscious and able to communicate with HFD personnel. Rescue and Hazardous Materials personnel conducted atmospheric monitoring to ensure the confined space was not inherently dangerous to life and health. Simultaneously, rescue personnel utilized a rescue tripod and made entry to conduct a medical assessment, perform basic life support, then package and extricate the trapped man via rope rescue equipment. Medical care was transferred to Emergency Medical Services upon extrication.
All HFD personnel were accounted for with no reports of injuries.