Hiker airlifted out of popular Kaua’i trail

A hiker was airlifted from the Kalalau Valley on Sunday, the ninth such rescue this year.

Kauai coast, Hawaii. Image by ruthdaniel3444 / CC BY 2.0

Popular with hikers, the strenuous 11-mile Kalalau Trail provides access to the rugged coast of northwestern Kaua’i, much of it inaccessible except by foot or air. The trail’s terminus, Kalalau Beach, which is at the mouth of the valley, is typically where hikers camp overnight before making the return trip. On Sunday, authorities were notified about a 47-year-old woman from Houston who needed transport out of the valley. Authorities said the woman did not sustain any injuries, but she was “was incapacitated and would have probably needed assistance in the future, so the decision was made to take her out now.” Read more: thegardenisland.com