Safety urged after visitor’s hike to Manoa Falls ends in fractured ankle, wrist

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A visitor from Florida is urging hikers to stay safe after a visit to Manoa Falls on Sunday ended with a fractured ankle and wrist for her friend.

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Lauren Wooten and Bridget Fields were on Oahu last week for a “girls’ trip” with their daughters.

Fields said Manoa Falls was “one of the places she (Wooten) actually really wanted to go.”

After reaching the top of the trail Sunday afternoon, Fields said Wooten lost her balance while stepping down a steep step.

“She went down and just slipped. She slipped and landed very awkwardly on her, like, hyperextended her ankle, I would say, and then she screamed and I knew it was serious,” Fields said.

Two medical workers who happened to be hiking on the trail brought her about a mile down, where first responders treated her.

“There were so many kind and helpful people,” Fields said.

While Wooten did not want to do an interview as she recovers back home in Florida, Fields spoke on her behalf and posted about the incident on social media.

“So someone else could learn from this,” Fields explained. “Even though it’s kind of known as an easier trail, if you’re not really super familiar with it, you should err on the side of caution.”

Honolulu Fire Department Capt. Keopele Gowan pointed out, “Everything’s easy until it’s not.”

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Gowan reminded the public that wet weather could make hiking conditions more difficult, especially during hurricane season.

Fields said the trail “did seem really muddy,” and that “it looked like it had just rained… I did see some people slipping along the way.”

Avid hiker Amber Fonte added, “This rainy weather is amazing for waterfalls, but what it’s not so amazing for sometimes is getting to the waterfalls.”

Fonte suggested visitors seek advice from hiking groups on social media, especially after March’s Kona low storms changed the terrain along some trails.

In addition to a higher chance of rain this time of the year, there is typically more foot traffic on trails.

During the summer months, Gowan said HFD gets about 100 calls for hikers in need of help, and that half of them demand extensive resources.

To avoid running into trouble on a trail, Gowan said, “Assess your own physical capabilities, be realistic. If it’s a difficult trail, definitely pay attention… Let someone know you’re hiking. Hike with a partner, if possible.”

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Here is a list of more safety recommendations from HFD.