Injured Hiker Report 5-10-2020 Waipio Valley near Hi’ilawe Falls

Upon arrival made verbal contact with a third party/good samaritan at Malama Market in Honokaa town to inform HFD personnel about the possibility of an injured visitor with a possible leg fracture in need of rescue near Hi’ilawe Falls in Waipio Valley

Failing to adhere to stay at home orders and hiking in a large group in Waipio Valley.

Patient noted that he was walking along river towards rear of Waipio valley when a dead tree/log he was walking on gave way. Patient and friends attempted to self-extricate from injury site back toward vehicle that they had parked at “end of drivable area” before realizing they would run out of daylight before making it back. Patient and party requested bystanders/3rd parties to activate 911 due to poor cell phone reception in the valley. Patient’s friends attempted to carry him for most of the way as they attempted to walk back to vehicle, but progress was slow due to walking in/along river, and uneven terrain.  Arriving 911 units were initially unclear as to whereabouts of patient, and initial search attempts were focused on Hiilawe Falls area with negative findings and poor communications in the Valley. With daylight disappearing quickly, Chopper 1 made a final attempt to search for the party before returning to quarters and located the party in darkness. Chopper 1 performed rapid extrication via billy pugh net and dropped the patient off at the staging area to Chopper 2 for transport to North Hawaii.