A rapidly rising stream at one of the busiest hiking trails on Kauai left 37 hikers trapped Tuesday night. Everyone eventually made it out of the Hanakapiai Valley but seven of people needed to be air-lifted to safety.
Rescuers are being applauded for their effort but many are asking why were the hikers there on a day when the weather was nasty. On a calm day the hike to Hanakapiai Falls on the north shore of Kauai is a popular journey.
"This is next to one of the wettest spots on earth and at half-a million people a year visiting primarily from out of state, typically the Hanakapiai Trail going up to the falls is very busy." said Curt Cottrell of the Department of Land and Natural Resources State Parks Division. "It's a very busy location and it's very important that visitors get to see that but once again, sometimes Mother Nature shuts the door on visitation."
Tuesday was one of those days. Weather advisories were posted after wind and rain pummeled Kauai. At 5:45 p.m. rescuers received a call that 37 hikers could not cross the rapidly rising Hanakapiai Stream.
"Whenever we have interior rain like we do yesterday and even today as you know rivers rise and we can be subject to flash floods," said Sue Kanoho, Executive Director the Kauai Visitors Bureau.
Seven hikers were air-lifted to Ke'e Beach including a man who was asthmatic and did not have his medication, a pregnant woman, and a couple hiking with their 10-week old infant.
"That particular trail as you know can be challenging and so you wouldn't want to go blindly into something like that without understanding the conditions and the people that you have with you," said Kanoho.
"What we need people to do exercise more discretion and more common sense," added Cottrell.
As the water receded rescuers monitored the remaining 30 hikers who crossed the stream with the help of a rope line and hiked back on their own. County officials say fire crews believe the group was not part of an organized tour.
"Most people we work with that have tours know better," said Kanoho. "but if you're taking people you need to understand conditions, you need to be aware of trails."
This is what a flash flood looks like; this one was near Waikoloa Village on Hawaii Island last April. Flash floods can strike anywhere at anytime.
"We want to get the message out that you know this can happen, you know when you cross streams on trails that are in areas where you're right next to areas of heavy rainfall," said Cottrell. "Just stay put until someone gets you. Versus try to do something heroic, where you're putting yourself at risk."
"It comes to a matter of just paying attention to the environment and the surrounding condition and just practicing just a tad bit of common sense," said state Rep. Derek Kawakami. "It's sad and yet we're blessed that nobody got seriously hurt but at the same time we're putting our first-responders at risk."
Hikers are reminded to check weather forecasts, have proper gear and water available, know your surroundings and your limitations.
