The time may have arrived for hikers to start opening their wallets and paying for the costs of their rescues on Kaua’i. Ignorance is bliss sometimes. It’s anything but that on the heavily-used trails that weave throughout the island. While
The time may have arrived for hikers to start opening their wallets and paying
for the costs of their rescues on Kaua’i.
Ignorance is bliss sometimes.
It’s anything but that on the heavily-used trails that weave throughout the
island. While the majority of hikers are conscientious and complete their trips
safely, too many in the minority march into the wilds ill-prepared for and
unknowing about what lies ahead. The result too often is injured or lost hikers
whose rescues are paid for by the public.
As The Garden Island reported
Wednesday, officials responded to 150 calls for land rescues in 1998-99. With
that in mind, Kaua’i County set aside $45,000 for the Fire Department to use
helicopters in search-and-rescues this year. That budget has already been
busted by more than $5,000, and the overrun could go higher before the year is
over. Taxpayers will foot the bill.
There’s no getting around government’s
traditional role in providing rescue services. That involvement should
continue. But government has rising costs just like everyone else. With Kauai’s
popularity as a tourist destination and the accompanying droves of visitors
hiking its trails, it’s impractical to expect the county to continue to
shoulder the total expense of rescues.
That’s especially true of rescues of
adventurers who get into trouble because of poor judgment. It doesn’t matter if
they don’t know any better or if they simply ignore the basic safety rules of
hiking. If they venture onto trails without the proper shoes, clothing or
supplies such as water, or if they head into terrain they have no business
attempting because of the dangers or their own lack of hiking experience, they
should be willing to pay to be saved from their own folly.
If there’s more
that government or outdoors organizations can reasonably do to educate hikers
in advance or warn them with signs posted at trailheads and/or dangerous
stretches of trails, those steps should be taken. In addition, a cautionary
note that hikers could end up with a rescue bill might be the best lesson they
receive.
Ultimately, writing a personal check for a wrong-headed hike is
better than paying for it with a life.
