KPD: Nounou East Trail hiker, 59, dies

LIHU‘E — A male visitor was pronounced dead after being rescued and transported from the Nounou East Trail in Wailua on Sunday.

The Kaua‘i Police Department identified the hiker as Masami Ozawa, 59, of Illinois, who became unresponsive on the Sleeping Giant trail.

Kaua‘i Fire Department personnel were notified of the first report around 11:30 a.m. Personnel with the Kapa‘a fire station, Rescue 3, Air 1, the on-duty battalion chief and American Medical Response responded to the incident.

According to a preliminary report, first responders arrived on scene around 11:35 a.m. and located the hiker at the 0.5-mile marker of the trail. The hiker had no pulse, was not breathing, and was being administered CPR by a bystander.

Rescuers activated a defibrillator on the hiker and took over CPR efforts. Assistance from additional rescuers included high-performance CPR and bag-valve-mask ventilation with high-flow oxygen. The man was transported via Air 1 to Wailua Houselots Park to awaiting medics and firefighters. AMR personnel continued advanced life support on the hiker before transporting him to the Wilcox Medical Center ER, where he was pronounced dead.

Kalalau Trail rescue

First responders were alerted of the second incident around 12:30 p.m., involving a 56-year-old female visitor with an ankle injury on the Kalalau Trail in Hanakoa Valley. Personnel with the Hanalei fire station, Rescue 3, Air 1, the on-duty battalion chief and AMR responded to the incident.

First responders arrived on scene around 12:50 p.m.

After accessing the patient, first responders carried her to Air 1. After landing at Princeville Airport to awaiting medics and fire personnel, she was assessed and transported to a local hospital.