BARRY MARKOWITZ / SPECIAL TO THE STAR-BULLETIN
With the help of fire department rescue personnel, former state Rep. Quentin Kawananakoa was airlifted out of the mountains above Hauula after a paragliding mishap and a 100-foot slide down a slope.
Fire crews rescued former state Rep. Quentin Kawananakoa from a steep ridge above Hauula yesterday following a paragliding mishap. Glider ride strands ex-legislator
Fire rescue crews save Kawananakoa
after he phones for helpBy Rod Antone
rantone@starbulletin.comKawananakoa said he avoided falling over a 300- to 400-foot cliff after rolling, sliding and tumbling down a steep incline that he was forced to land on after he "fell out of the thermal (draft)" and was unable to paraglide his way out of the valley.
"The winds were too strong for me to head against, so I had to topland on a ridgeline," said Kawananakoa. "It was about a 70 percent slope, and I slid about a hundred feet."
Kawananakoa said he finally stopped rolling when he slid into brush and trees that were growing along the ridge. However, he was unable to hike his way out because he said there were sheer cliffs surrounding his landing site.
Honolulu firefighters said Kawananakoa was prepared by having a cell phone to call for help. The fire department sent its Air One helicopter rescue crew to pluck Kawananakoa off the ridgeline.
"He was fine. He did the right thing and stayed there. It was a lot safer that way," said Fire Department spokesman Capt. Kenison Tejada.
"We went up in Air One and got him ... he wasn't hurt at all."
"I was only up there for about 30 minutes ... the Fire Department was really fast, and I'm really grateful," said Kawananakoa.
"I had cliff lines above and below me, so I was pretty much stranded."
Kawananakoa did not seek medical attention after firefighters airlifted him off the cliff and took him to Hauula Beach Park.
The last time Kawananakoa was in the media spotlight was in 1998, when he dropped out of the race for U.S. Congress due to health reasons. Prior to that announcement, he was considered one of the GOP's most popular candidates and was expected to run a tough campaign against Democratic U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie.
