From sprained ankles to the tragic loss of life. Emergency help comes with staggering costs that Hawaii plans to address.
50 thoughts on “Latest Deadly Kauai/Hawaii Search & Rescues Lead To Pending Legislation”
Comments are closed.
Home » Blog » Hawaii Travel Tips » Latest Deadly Kauai/Hawaii Search & Rescues Lead To Pending Legislation
Aloha BOH! I don’t have a suggestion to resolve this issue, I just want to express my opinion that the citizens of Hawaii should not have to bear the cost for rescuing anyone (tourist or resident) who disregards warning signs or who willfully puts themselves in danger. But if it is absolutely clear that it was the trespasser’s fault, they should have to pay the cost of their rescue. Mahalo for letting me comment.
Hi Debi.
Thank you for your comment on this issue and your nearly 50 other comments. We appreciate it.
Aloha.
I think it is a great idea. It’s not that expensive to get 30 day emergency coverage. The coverage I get generally covers a med vac. I am not sure if it covers emergency rescue crews. That might have to be covered by charging for permits on trails in Hawai’i. Hiking the West Coast Trail on Vancouver Island in Canada is roughly $200 bucks and it is highly recommended that you get emergency insurance or you have to pay for the rescue if you are rescued by a helicopter. If you are rescued by boat that is included in the hiking permit. We were rescued by boat (my friend fell and broke her humerus) so we all decided to go with her because of logistics. She was fine just so you all know. The Canadian Parcs are very well trained and very professional. I think US Park Ranger’s could take some lessons. Hawai’i definitely should charge for some of the more treacherous hikes like those on Kauai.
I agree, Theresa, and with Sheryl B’s comment, also. Hawai’i’s taxpayers should not have to pay for the deliberately dangerous behavior of anyone, local or tourist. Hiking permits are a great idea!
In Oregon, we have many tourists who come here to climb Mt. Hood and choose not to use the free beacons or follow other safety measures, like checking the weather or being prepared for a drastic change in the weather. When they get lost or trapped due to their negligent behavior, the search and rescue folks are there within an hour in most cases. Sometimes the weather is too dangerous for the rescue helicopters to fly, as in whiteout conditions or extreme winds. There have been incidents when rescuers have been killed trying to save lives. One to two people die on Mt. Hood every year.
Of course, there are people who are experienced hikers and skiers who are doing all the right things are injured or are the victims of an avalanche. Those are true accidents.
The bozos who come here not knowing anything about Mt. Hood and try to climb up unprepared, then get lost and want a free ride down, are the ones who need to pay for the transportation. Charging them for that has been discussed.
Hawai’i is in a good place to make that decision and I hope they do, sooner than later. It seems that people are getting dumber about following rules.
Just for perspective, here’s the positing of my local SAR team in Vancouver, Canada:
“We do not support charging for rescues primarily due to the risk of a lost or injured person or their family/friends delaying a call for help. Through over 50 years of Search and Rescue work on the north shore, we have seen many calls where family have been under the impression that they would be charged, and delayed their calls for help. Another situation we have run into is a subject being under the impression they would be charged, and avoiding rescuers (trying to follow them out). There are significant risks and costs which can be associated with this.
The subject may be put at greater risk (eg. the delay itself, prolonged exposure to the elements, less likely to be found, etc.)
The rescuers may be put at greater risk (more exposure, more area to cover (time distance traveled considerations), air support may be unavailable due to delay, etc)
A prolonged search increases costs to taxpayers and volunteers exponentially
NSR is proud to be able to provide search and rescue at NO cost and have NO plans to charge in the future.”
This is a great idea, and long overdue. The taxpayers of Hawai’i shouldn’t have to be financially responsible for the consequences of reckless or illegal behavior of residents or tourists.
Aloha,
Something like those cards sounds like a really good idea. It could be sold through the GoHawaii website, maybe at a kiosk at the airport and through travel agents and hotels.
Just way past time for this to take place. There is no way that the responders should not be compensated for those that take unnecessary risk, especially by being unprepared for where they are attempting to go. Just do it already.
This would not have applied to the two hikers mentioned above. If rumor is true, they just wanted a “ride” out and really weren’t injured. There was another recent rescue where a woman was hit by a wave and she hit her head and is hospitalized. So should she be charged because she went into the ocean that can be dangerous at times? On Kauai there is really no way to rescue hikers other than air. Now should a hiker be charged for injuring themselves while off trails that are marked as off limits? Sure. Should people rescued be required to go to a hospital to be checked out? Yes! This reminds me of the story currently active on Kauai with the lost hiker. He was hiking by himself. Will that soon be illegal. Thanks.
This is an interesting problem because there is no way of knowing who is going to decide to do something incredibly stupid or who may have an unforeseeable medical emergency, be it tourists or locals. Bottom line is it is unfair for the state and the taxpayers to have to pick up the tab regardless. Hikers should register prior to hiking but not I am sure not everyone does so charging hikers a fee probably won’t work, and trying to collect after the fact would be extremely difficult. I am not a fan of more fees for tourists but if the state were to require the airlines to charge 50 cents per traveler that would go to the state for search and rescue costs, it would hardly be noticeable to the traveler but would be a win for the state. We saw kids diving in to a blow hole at South Point on the BI and timing their dive with the waves. Those are the kind of idiotic things that could require someone else to risk their life to save someone who just did something really stupid. The residents of the state should not be responsible for that. I say try to recoup the cost from the one at fault, but have the rescue fund should they decide not to pay.
Aloha Sheryl,
This is actually not a “blowhole” this is a cave from an old lava tube, that happens to have a surface opening, at the top of the cliffs. It’s likely been there for hundreds, if not thousands of years.
I understand from some people that have jumped (mostly locals that know the area and ocean conditions well), it is fairly deep and easy to swim, if conditions are favorable. There is a ladder just outside the cave that people climb right back out from. Not sure how many people have ever been injured from jumping there, but probably not near as many as those who just jump off the cliff, which tourists are more likely to do, since (again) there is a ladder right there to climb back up on.
One transplanted local who has lived there for several years told me that he has never been hurt jumping into the hole, and has never touched the bottom. He also told me that he dislocated his shoulder once by landing wrong, as he slipped off the platform where the rope pully is. I have seen several people jump, including kids, and never seen anyone get hurt, but I am sure it’s happened at some point.
I definitely agree this not smart, however. I wouldn’t even jump off the cliffs there, let alone jump into that hole! lol
Aloha, I see people constantly going through the fence surrounding Wailua Falls here on Kauai. The signs saying danger and do not trespass are right in front of their faces. Not only are they trespassing they are leaving their cars parked all day and the people coming to legally view the falls have nowhere to park.
Many things have crossed my mind about this, but the bottom line is who pays. Is the thinking different for local or visitor? If my snorkel boat sinks on the way to Ni’ihau and the Coast Guard comes, am I billed; so is there a difference if the rescue comes from my negligence or the state’s or a private party? Crazy, I have never thought about the liability and/or exposure to the expenses in search and rescue.
Can you take a boat to Ni’ihau?
That is exactly the point, a lot of people don’t think until it is too late. But someone has to be ready to perform rescues and that costs a lot of money.