Hikers stranded by rain arrive safely
By Karen Blakeman
Advertiser Staff Writer
Three hikers stranded Saturday after heavy rains swelled mountain streams and made trails impassable walked out of the mountains unharmed yesterday morning, firefighters said.
Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser
Fire Capt. Kenison Tejada said firefighters resumed a search this morning for a Honolulu couple last seen stranded below Ka'au Crater on Waiomao Trial in Palolo.
Rain poses hazards to hikers in O'ahu's valleys, which can flood quickly in a downpour. Here, a group of backpackers gets a drenching after visiting Manoa Falls.
From Air One, the HFD helicopter, firefighters spotted the couple walking out on their own at about 6:30 a.m., he said.
The couple said that once they realized they were trapped, they found a high spot to spend the night. They said they were not hurt and declined medical treatment.
"They were a little cold and a little embarrassed," Tejada said.
He said firefighters also searched near Manoa Falls shortly before midnight Saturday after a woman reported her husband missing in the area.
The couple called firefighters at daylight yesterday to tell them the man was fine, Tejada said.
Meanwhile, Honolulu-bound traffic on the Likelike Highway was diverted onto H-3 for several hours early yesterday while crews worked to clear debris after the rains caused several small mudslides.
Heavy rains and flooding statewide had ended by about 3 a.m. yesterday, said Roy Matsuda, a National Weather Service forecaster in Honolulu.
Skies were expected to remain dry at least through last night, he said. But unstable weather systems remain, and frequent heavy showers could return today and remain a threat through Wednesday.
