LIHU‘E — In the wake of several rescues, the Kaua‘i Fire Department has taken to social media to advise the public about the dangers of hiking.
A new video released on the KFD Facebook page advises hikers to bring appropriate shoes, bright clothing, water, a cellphone, medication, a flashlight, sunblock and a whistle — and to check signs and weather conditions before hiking.
“A lot of our calls unfortunately are for visitors who put themselves into situations that they are not prepared for. The more they can be informed about it the better,” said Kaua‘i County Council Vice Chair Mason Chock, who worked as a rescue specialist with the KFD and was injured in a helicopter crash during a rescue on Napali Coast.
“I know firsthand that anytime somebody is put into that situation our personnel’s lives are at risk.”
In 2022, KFD has responded to 13 land rescues, and Air 1, the department’s helicopter unit, has been deployed nine times for response to incidents. In 2021, KFD responded to 125 land rescues, and Air 1 was
deployed 63 times.
Most recently, Air 1 was dispatched to assist an injured 56-year-old California hiker who was rescued on Kalalau Trail last Friday. First responders extracted the injured man and transported him to Princeville Airport.
Earlier in the month, firefighters rescued an injured 53-year-old Utah hiker near Ho‘opi‘i Falls in Kapa‘a, and in January a 45-year-old male visitor from Austria was rescued along with his wife at Kalalau Beach.
Kalalau has proven to be a particularly dangerous spot for hikers, with 24 rescues made in 2021 along with six incidents this year, according to Kaua‘i Fire Chief Steven Goble.
These rescues, which Chock said tend to involve tourists, are not only dangerous but are also expensive, especially when they involve the use of Air 1.
The KFD has a contract for helicopter operations and maintenance totaling $562,140 annually, Goble reported. This service includes emergency responses of all types, including land and water rescues, searches, brush-fire response, along with training, maintenance and reconnaissance. The aviation contract does not include personnel costs for KFD rescuers.
The Garden Island reported that in fiscal year 2014-15 the county spent almost $20,000 on helicopter rescues — a total of 43 hours of rescues at $450 per flight hour, a figure that does not include personnel costs.
Chock introduced a measure passed in 2015 that allowed for the county to seek reimbursement for the costs of rescues if there is a clear warning that was ignored that caused the need for emergency response.
To date, the county has not recovered any costs in this way, though Goble reports that several incidents are currently under KFD review.
Chock says that the legislation was not intended to encourage hikers not to call for help if they needed it, but open up the possibility for recouping costs in situations of extreme negligence.
“Know your limits, prepare for the worst-case scenario, consult with locals who know the area,” said Chock. “And if there are any doubts, err on the side of safety.”
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Guthrie Scrimgeour, reporter, can be reached at 647-0329 or gscrimgeour@thegardenisland.com.
