Posted on: Monday, October 7, 2002

Stranded hikers return uninjured

Advertiser Staff

Five University of Hawai'i students hiked down from a Windward ridge line yesterday morning after getting stranded by darkness Saturday and being forced to spend the night.

Fire Department Capt. Richard Soo said none of the three men and two women, all between the ages of 18 and 20, were injured.

They started the hike at about 2:30 p.m. at Crouching Lion, and worked their way up the ridge line of Kahana Valley State Park. When darkness fell and they realized they could not find their way down, they called for help on a cell phone at 8:30 p.m.

About 10 rescue personnel and HFD's Air One helicopter searched for the hikers. Rescuers were able to locate them, but called off the search at 10:15 p.m. because it was unsafe for the helicopter to try to pick them up.

Rescue crews were on hand yesterday morning when the hikers found their way down at about 8 a.m.