A 37-year-old man from California died on Tuesday after collapsing on a hazardous section of the Kalalau Trail in Kauai, Hawaii, according to local authorities.
The incident occurred around 4 p.m. on May 19 on a steep, exposed cliffside stretch known as “Crawler's Ledge.” Bystanders performed CPR until emergency crews arrived by helicopter.
The Kauai Fire Department airlifted the man from the ledge, and paramedics continued resuscitation efforts while transporting him to Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Police said an autopsy is pending, but foul play is not suspected.
The 11-mile Kalalau Trail is considered one of the most dangerous hiking routes in the US due to steep elevation changes, narrow cliffside paths and slippery terrain. The section where the man collapsed forces some hikers to crawl across it.
Fatalities on the trail are rare, but rescues are common. Emergency services conducted 73 documented rescues in 2024 and more than 69 in 2025, according to reports.
