WAILUA — Thirteen kayakers were rescued Thursday evening on the Wailua River, after getting stranded near Uluwehi Falls.
WAILUA — Thirteen kayakers were rescued Thursday evening on the Wailua River, after getting stranded near Uluwehi Falls.
No injuries were reported.
At approximately 5 p.m., Kaua‘i Fire Department firefighters were notified of 13 kayakers who were stranded up the Wailua River, just past the kayak landing near the end of the trail to Uluwehi Falls. The callers stated that the river had risen and was impassable.
KFD rescue specialists aboard the rescue helicopter flew over the scene. Due to the area’s conditions and safety concerns, Kapa‘a firefighters instead utilized KFD’s rescue boat, Whaler 1, and responded up the river.
At the kayak landing, personnel walked in and found the 13 people stranded across the river. Firefighters shuttled the 13 victims across the river using kayaks. Once all 13 people were safely across, they used their kayaks and proceeded down the river towards the Wailua Marina, while Whaler 1 escorted them to safety.
