Hiker rescued after falling 60 feet off Kalalau Trail

KALALAU — A 26-year-old visiting hiker was rescued by first responders after falling approximately 60 feet off the Kalalau Trail on Sunday, County of Kaua‘i officials announced Monday.

According to a preliminary report, the woman, who was visiting from New York, suffered an apparent head injury after falling off the trail shortly before 1:35 p.m. on Sunday.

The woman was helped by fellow hikers on the trail while waiting for first responders, who had received a report of the incident.

First responders arrived on the scene about an hour later, shortly before 2:30 p.m., and the injured hiker was flown to the Princeville Airport.

Paramedics with American Medical Response reportedly continued treatment of the hiker at the airport, but she declined medical transport to the hospital and was released.

The county reported the scene had been cleared shortly after 3:50 p.m.

County spokesperson Alden Alayvilla did not know which part of the trail the woman had fallen from, but it had been raining in the area on Sunday afternoon.

The 11-mile Kalalau Trail on the island’s North Shore is one of the most well-known hikes in the state and is known for its challenging terrain.

Dozens of people have reportedly gone missing or died on the trail over the years, including Rose Schlegel, a 30-year-old Kapa‘a woman, who fell to her death after falling near a campsite in Kalalau Valley in 2012.