California Couple Hiking Illegal Trail in Honolulu Airlifted With Multiple Injures Minutes After Ignoring 'Closed Trail' Signs

A California couple in their 60s had to be airlifted from the Sacred Falls Trail in Punaluu on Sunday after sustaining multiple injuries while trespassing, according to the Honolulu Fire Department (HFD).

Sacred Falls Trail has been closed to the public since 1999 after a deadly rockslide killed eight people and injured dozens. Despite clear warning signs and locked gates, trespassers continue to enter the area, risking not only their own safety but also that of first responders.

Firefighters received a 911 call at 1:13 p.m. and dispatched six units with 17 personnel to locate the stranded hikers, the Star Advertiser reported. The couple had been on the prohibited trail for just 15 minutes before suffering injuries that left them unable to continue.

HFD's Air 1 helicopter located the pair and transported them to a nearby landing zone, where they were transferred to Honolulu Emergency Medical Services at 2:30 p.m. for further care. The nature of their injuries was not specified.