Posted at 12:24 p.m., Monday, May 10, 2004
Hiking family of five rescued
Advertiser Staff
A Mililani family of five lost on a loop trail in Wahiawa was found on the top half of a ridge above Whitmore Village and brought out safely early today by fire rescue specialists.A man and woman, both 38, and their three children — a girl, 10, and two boys, ages 7 and 5 — were escorted to an open area and brought out in three trips by the Honolulu Fire Department helicopter, said Capt. Kenison Tejada, HFD spokesman. The nearly seven-hour rescue operation was completed at 2:10 a.m.
No injuries were reported.
The hikers had little water left, no jackets and a non-working cellular phone when they were found, said Tejada. The family called 911 for help at about 7:30 p.m. yesterday.
The search effort was hampered by fog. Firefighters made voice contact with the hikers at 12:45 a.m. today and found them about five minutes later, said Tejada. The helicopter had flown over them several times but the family was unable to use their cell phone by then, added Tejada.
The fire department advises hikers to keep track of the time and to call for help before darkness if they are having any trouble, said Tejada.
