Two Helicopters Assist in Kayakers’ Rescue

The Hawaii County Fire Department had to scramble both of its helicopters Wednesday to help rescue some kayakers in distress several miles off the North Kohala coast.

The department received a report at 10:59 a.m. of two people in a kayak two to three miles offshore of an area two miles south of Lapakahi State Park on the Akoni Pule Highway.

Chopper 2, the department’s medevac helicopter based in South Kohala, located the errant kayakers, who had apparently been unaware they were being pulled away from shore by a rip current.

The boat’s occupants were then rescued and taken ashore by Chopper 1, which is based in Hilo.

The kayak was also retrieved, although it was not immediately clear by what or whom.

No injuries were reported.