News Release

Visitor rescued in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park after falling off cliff in the dark

HVNP first responders prepare for the search and rescue in darkness

NPS Photo/F.Aiona

News Release Date: June 13, 2025

Contact: Jessica Ferracane, 808-985-6018

HAWAII NATIONAL PARK, Hawaiʻi – Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park first responders rescued a male visitor who fell 30 feet from a steep cliff after venturing off Byron Ledge Trail Wednesday night, June 11.   

The 30-year-old Boston man suffered minor facial injuries. He told search and rescue rangers that he wanted a closer look at the Kīlauea volcano eruption and got too close to the sheer cliff edge. He did not have a flashlight or headlamp. Park dispatch was notified of the incident around 9 p.m.  

The park’s well-trained search and rescue team, who were managing eruption traffic, responded quickly and performed a high-angle rescue that involved rappelling down the steep, heavily vegetated cliff face and hoisting the man to safety. A tree had broken the man’s fall and prevented him from plunging another hundred feet or so to the caldera floor, which could have resulted in his death.  

Park rangers, trail signs, the brochure, website and social media consistently educate people about volcanic hazards:  

•  Stay on marked trails and overlooks. Do not approach earth cracks or cliff edges, the edge is often unstable, undercut, or hidden by vegetation or loose rocks. 
•  Do not climb over rock walls, railings, or safety barriers, they are there for your safety. 
•  Keep a close eye on everyone in your group, especially children. 
•  Carry a flashlight or headlamp at night and always wear sturdy footwear with good traction when hiking. 

Kīlauea volcano has drawn a surge of visitors to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park since it began erupting December 23, 2024. The June 11 eruption, which started around noon and ended at 8:08 p.m., was the 25th episode with lava fountains that reached more than 1,000 feet and fed voluminous flows on the crater floor. The eruption is in a closed area of the park due to its serious hazards but is visible from many overlooks along the caldera rim.  

-NPS-

 
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