A 37-year-old California man died Tuesday after he was rescued from a remote section of Kauai’s rugged Kalalau Trail, authorities said.
First responders were notified around 4 p.m. that a hiker was unconscious near Crawler’s Ledge, a cliffside section of the trail, according to the Kaua‘i Police Department. Bystanders performed CPR until Kaua‘i Fire Department personnel arrived by helicopter and extracted the man from the trail.
Medics continued lifesaving efforts and took him to Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Authorities did not release the man’s name or hometown in California. An autopsy is pending to determine his cause of death, but police said foul play is not suspected.
The death brings renewed attention to the hazards of the Kalalau Trail, an 11-mile route along Kauai’s Nāpali Coast that is known for its rugged terrain, steep drop-offs and limited emergency access.
The agency recommends that only experienced hikers continue beyond Hanakāpīʻai and says most backpackers in good condition need a full day to complete the 11-mile hike.
State officials warn that parts of the trail are narrow, uneven and slippery, with steep drop-offs and hazards from mud, loose rocks, roots and stream crossings.
The Nāpali Coast also has no cell phone coverage, according to DLNR safety guidance, meaning hikers may have to signal a passing helicopter or boat or send someone out for help in an emergency.
Access to the Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park and Kalalau Trail is regulated.
Visitors generally enter through Hāʻena State Park, and anyone hiking beyond Hanakāpīʻai Beach must have a valid camping permit for the Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park, according to DLNR.