Kauai Fire Department Rescues 19 Kayakers, Including 14 Minors, Near Secret Falls

Nineteen Nevada visitors, 14 of them minors, were rescued from the Uluwehi Trail on Thursday after heavy rains swelled the Wailua River and trapped the group at the trail's first river crossing, Kaua'i Fire Department officials confirmed.

Emergency personnel were dispatched shortly after 2:15 p.m. on March 19. Crews from the Kapa'a Fire Station, Rescue 3, KFD's new Highwater vehicle, and the on-duty Battalion Chief responded to the scene, where they found the group of unguided kayakers unable to safely cross or retreat on their own. Department of Land and Natural Resources and American Medical Response personnel also responded to support the operation.

What is typically a manageable river crossing had been transformed by rising water into a fast-moving and potentially dangerous obstacle. Rescue crews used the kayaks already in the group's possession to ferry individuals across the swollen river, then guided the group off the trail entirely to Kamokila Village, where additional support was staged. From there, KFD's Highwater vehicle transported the visitors to Wailua River State Park, where their vehicles were parked. All 19 were successfully extracted with no injuries reported.

The Uluwehi Trail, widely known as the Secret Falls Trail, is one of the island's most popular visitor routes: a kayak-accessed path that leads inland along the Wailua River to a scenic waterfall, combining paddling and hiking in a single outing. That popularity makes conditions along the trail a consistent public safety concern when weather turns.

Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami credited KFD's response while issuing a pointed warning about weather-related water hazards. "First and foremost, we are grateful to our Kaua'i Fire Department personnel for their swift and professional response in safely rescuing all 19 kayakers. Their actions undoubtedly prevented a potentially tragic situation," Kawakami said. "At the same time, this incident serves as an important reminder that entering the water during severe weather conditions places lives at risk — not only for those in the water, but also for our first responders."

The rescue unfolded as a Kona low system was pushing toward the islands. The Kaua'i Emergency Management Agency had a Flood Watch in effect for the island from 6 p.m. March 19 through 6 p.m. March 22, with heavy rain, thunderstorms, and strong winds forecast through the weekend.