Woman, 29, in serious condition after 30-foot fall from Koolau trail

Nina Wu, The Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Wed, December 17, 2025 at 4:53 AM UTC

3 min read

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Honolulu firefighters today rescued a couple, including an injured 29-year-old woman, from the Koolau Summit Trail after they spent a night in the mountains.

The Honolulu Fire Department received a 911 call just before 5 :30 p.m. Monday for the two hikers after the woman reportedly fell about 30 feet from the trail located above the Kuliouou Ridge Trail.

Her hiking companion, a 30-year-old man, was able to make his way down to her location, where they waited for assistance.

Six units with 19 personnel responded to the call, but due to the steep terrain, weather, and darkness, HFD determined that rescue via its Air 1 helicopter would be too dangerous.

Firefighters then initiated a ground rescue mission to reach the couple by foot, which continued until 1 :16 a.m. before it was suspended.

The search resumed at first light this morning, but due to inclement weather and low cloud cover, HFD once again determined direct aerial access was impossible.

Rescue personnel were inserted along Kuliouou Ridge Trail below the cloud layer at about 9 :09 a.m., where they then hiked up to the Koolau Summit Trail by foot to conduct a search.

Firefighters arrived just before 11 a.m. at the couple’s location, where they conducted a medical assessment and offered basic life support treatment.

Using multiple rope systems, firefighters lowered the injured woman to an area free of tree canopy and below the cloud cover, where the Air 1 helicopter hoisted her and took her to a nearby landing zone.

Honolulu Emergency Medical Services took over care of the woman at about 1 :15 p.m. Waialae Iki Neighborhood Park.

Paramedics administered life-saving treatment for the woman, who suffered head, neck, leg, arm and back injuries along with abrasions.

EMS said she remained conscious as she was rushed to an emergency room in serious condition.

Firefighters, meanwhile, are actively escorting her male companion back up the ridgeline in order to make their way back down the trail.

“Due to the dangerous terrain and inclement weather, the remainder of the rescue operation will be extensive, ” said HFD in a news release.

The hikers are reportedly a couple in their 30s visiting Hawaii from out of state.

HFD recommends that hikers check on weather conditions for the latest forecast before heading out, and that they monitor the weather while on the hike.

Honolulu experienced heavy and intense downpours, along with some thunderstorms, over the past three days, which led to flooded roads on Sunday.

The National Weather Service had issued a flood advisory for Oahu, which was effective on Sunday, then became a through late Monday night.

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