Four teenage boys who were the object of a search Sunday night by Fire Department rescue workers, walked out of the hills above Waimea Falls Park yesterday morning unharmed.

Fire Capt. Kenison Tejada said the boys, who range in age from 13 to 19, told their parents they planned to hike Waimea Falls Park on a trail that begins at a Boy Scout Camp above Pupukea.

The group set out about 3 p.m. Sunday for what they thought was a three-hour hike. When the boys failed to return by 6:30 p.m., their parents called authorities.

"Members of our rescue crew and from the Sunset Beach fire station hiked up a couple of cliff trails but couldn't locate the boys and we called off operations about 11 p.m. (Sunday) night," Tejada said.The Fire Department helicopter also took part in the search Sunday night and yesterday morning, Tejada said.

Rescuers finally made contact with the boys about 7:40 yesterday morning and led them to safety, Tejada said.

He said the boys were ill-equipped for what turned out to be an overnight stay on the hiking trail. "They did have a cell phone but it wasn't working," Tejada said.

Reach David Waite at dwaite@honoluluadvertiser.com.