Portlock woman safe after hiking accident

By Walter Wright
Advertiser Staff Writer

A 77-year-old Portlock woman was escorted out of the Ko'olau range above Hawai'i Kai yesterday afternoon by a rescue firefighter after she was separated from hiking companions on the Kuli'ou'ou Trail.

Carla Anette said she slipped and fell 20 to 30 feet down a ravine, twisting her knee and possibly breaking a finger.

When a Honolulu Fire Department helicopter appeared overhead, Anette realized it was looking for her. She crossed over a ridge to make herself more visible, she said.

She said a firefighter gave first aid before walking out with her.

Anette, a photographer who regularly hikes the trail above Kala'au Place, set out with two companions around 8:30 a.m., said HFD Capt. Richard Soo.

When her friends began to get ahead of her, Soo said, Anette told them to go on ahead. But when Anette failed to come out at the trail head, her companions called 911.

A rescue squad from downtown, the Air One helicopter, and a combination fire truck from Hawai'i Kai all were dispatched on a search around 10:30 a.m.

Unable to find her on their first sweep of several trails, fire crews regrouped and the helicopter found Anette on the Kawaihae side of the ridge around 1 p.m., Soo said.