Pihea Trail

Visitor Found Safe After Spending Night on Pihea Trail

A 60-year-old man from Connecticut was found safe Tuesday morning (August 22nd, 2023) after he was reported missing in Kokee State Park on Monday night.

According to a report released by the County of Kauai, the man visited the Pu’u O Kila Lookout in Kokee State Park to watch the sunset with his daughter shortly before 7:30 p.m. on Monday. Soon after, the two were separated and the man was last seen walking towards the Pihea Trail. After searching for him when he did not return, his daughter called police on Monday night to report him missing. (Sunset on Monday, August 21st was 7:04 p.m. with full darkness quickly approaching.)

Kauai police and firefighters from the Waimea fire station responded to the call, but after conducting a ground search they could not locate the man. Due to weather conditions and darkness, responders suspended their search Monday night, with plans to resume the next day.

At approximately 10:40 a.m. on Tuesday morning, firefighters found the missing man safe in the vicinity of the Alakai Swamp Trail (the Alakai Swamp Trail connects to the Pihea Trail). The man did not report any injuries, and firefighters were able to help walk him back to the trailhead.

PHOTO: The Pihea Trail as seen from the Pu’u O Kila Lookout on Monday, August 21st, 2023.