Fire crews recover body of hiker above Ka'a'awa

Advertiser Staff

Honolulu Fire Department crews yesterday recovered the body of a 28-year-old Kahalu'u man who slipped and fell 200 to 250 feet to his death Sunday afternoon in the mountains above Ka'a'awa.

The victim had been hiking with friends on a ridge trail mauka of Swanzy Beach Park when he fell, said Capt. Richard Soo.

The hiker's name was not released pending confirmation of his identity by the city medical examiner.

The search began shortly after 2 p.m. Sunday and continued until nightfall. Yesterday, the Fire Department assigned both ground and helicopter units to the search and soon found the victim, who was dead at the scene, said Soo.

Hiker hurt falling off Maui cliff

A 39-year-old man was hospitalized last night after he apparently fell 100 feet down a cliff in the Waikapu area of West Maui.

A Maui Fire spokesman said the man, who was not identified, was found yesterday afternoon in a stream on the Lahaina side of Waikapu Valley. He apparently was hiking alone with he fell down the near-vertical cliff, the spokesman said.

The man broke both legs and was being treated at Maui Memorial Hospital last night. It was not known how long he was lying in the stream before was found.