Posted on: Friday, January 18, 2002

Woman, boys safe after night on Wahiawa Heights

By Scott Ishikawa
Advertiser Central O‘ahu Writer

Ann Pacheco, 54, of Wahiawa is directed by firefighters after she and nephew Casey Dela Rosario, 12, and grandnephew Chance Botelho, 9, were rescued from the side of a steep riverbed by an HFD helicopter. Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser

WAHIAWA — It was an impromptu family reunion, but a happy one, nevertheless.

A 54-year-old woman and two children who didn't return from a Wednesday hike from behind the family's Wahiawa Heights home were reunited yesterday with 20 relatives who had joined the search with Honolulu and federal firefighters.

Ann Pacheco, nephew Casey Dela Rosario, 12, grandnephew Chance Botelho, 9, and the family dog were found by relative Russell Chee and two others at 1 p.m. along the side of a steep riverbed near the top of Wahiawa Heights. All were plucked from the area by a fire helicopter an hour later.

The three cold, tired and hungry hikers and the pet dog were unhurt.

Pacheco declined to talk with news reporters after being rescued, but Capt. Kenison Tejada, spokesman for the Honolulu Fire Department, reported that Pacheco said the three were looking for wild orchids when they wandered too far along a trail behind the water tower off California Avenue as it got dark.

"They didn't have a flashlight, so they decided to stay where they were overnight," Tejada said. "She lost track of time and knew it was too late to try and hike out."

Rescue crews searched the Schofield Barracks Military Reservation's East Range yesterday morning after witnesses saw a similar group of hikers entering the area from the nearby Hidden Valley residential development. But Pacheco's group had actually taken a trail on the other side of California Avenue.

Chee and Steve Sandry joined up with pig hunter Caleb Silva and found the three.

"They were happy we found them," said Chee, who had begun searching at first daylight. "I think the kids were even happier they were picked up by the fire chopper."

Reach Scott Ishikawa at 535-2429 or sishikawa@honoluluadvertiser.com