An acclaimed chef from Oceanside, California has been identified as the person who died from injuries sustained when a falling boulder inexplicably struck her on the head at Kauai’s Makaleha Falls on March 23rd, 2025. Gianna Buzzetta, age 26, was fulfilling a lifelong dream of visiting the waterfall, according to her parents as reported by 10 News.
Gianna had hiked the rough 2.5-mile Makaleha Falls Trail with her boyfriend Connor Quinton to reach the waterfall located deep in the Kauai wilderness. She was in the waterfall’s plunge pool “when they heard a really loud noise,” her dad Sal Buzzetta reported. “Connor looked up, but couldn’t figure out where the noise was coming from. Within a second, it happened. The rock dislodged from quite a ways up then it landed on her.”
Connor pulled Gianna out of the water, then had to run 2.5 miles back to the trailhead to get help due to lack of cell phone service in the area. Upon arriving at the scene, the Kauai Fire Department found Gianna unconscious and bleeding heavily from a head wound. She was airlifted to Wilcox Memorial Hospital on Kauai and then to Honolulu’s Queen’s Medical Center where she died the next day. Her parents were able to make it to the hospital before she passed.
Gianna was a rising executive pastry chef at Carlsbad’s Jeune et Jolie restaurant, and was credited with helping the restaurant win Michelin stars three years in a row. The restaurant is opening for dinner service on April 7th to raise funds for the family, Jeune et Jolie reported on its Instagram page. “Gianna was our former Pastry Chef, and our friend. She brought such joy, intensity, passion and love to this restaurant and to our team. Her sudden loss leaves all of us heartbroken, and searching for ways to be of help to her family.”
An online fundraiser has been created at GiveSendGo to assist with medical expenses, life flight transports, emergency travel for family, Gianna’s flight back to California and for securing a final resting place. “On March 24th 2025, our world lost a treasure and the brightest of lights, Gianna Isabella Buzzetta. She was a precious daughter, sister, aunt, niece, cousin, grand-daughter, girlfriend/soon-to-be fianće, friend, Christian, and gifted executive pastry chef,” according to the fundraiser.
While devastated by the tragic event, the Buzzetta family (in the online fundraiser) thanked a number of individuals involved in the efforts to save Gianni’s life. Most of all, they thanked Connor “who gave heroically every last effort to save her running a great distance desperately getting her help.” They also thanked Captain Francisco “Cisco” Garcia of Rescue 3 and crew, the Kauai Fire Department, the angel couple from Norway (Kelly and Marjike) on the trail that came to Connor’s assistance and gave support during the crisis, and several family members who provided crucial support at the hospital until the parents could arrive.
Makaleha Falls Kauai
While the incident was a freak accident and a very odd occurrence, it belies the dangers inherit with waterfalls. Water is often not the only thing that comes down waterfalls. Pebbles, rocks, tree limbs, tree logs and other debris are common dangers that pose risks to people swimming under waterfalls. Some waterfalls also have a churning effect that can drag even the best swimmers to the bottom. Overall, it’s best to stay out of waterfall plunge pools.
Kauai Magazine extends our deepest condolences to the family, friends and coworkers of Gianna.
