Firefighters yesterday rescued two men who were stranded Saturday while hiking on the Pu'u Kalena Trail in the Wai'anae Mountains.

HFD's Air 1 helicopter flew the hikers out at 11:50 a.m., said Honolulu fire Capt. Terry Seelig.

The hikers, both military men, were examined for effects of exposure and taken by Schofield ambulance to Tripler Army Medical Center for treatment.

The hikers, 21 and 28, began their hike Saturday at about 10:30 a.m. and reached a mountain peak approximately nine miles from the Pu'u Kalena trailhead in the late afternoon. Due to inclement weather and approaching darkness, they decided against descending the trail they had climbed and called 911 for assistance at about 6 p.m.

HFD and the federal fire department responded to the 911 call, but limited visibility prevented rescuers from reaching the stranded hikers. They were advised via cell phone to stay in place until rescue efforts could be resumed yesterday morning.

At about 10 a.m. yesterday, the weather broke and Air 1 set a rescue crew down on the Pu'u Kalena trail. The crew hiked about 45 minutes to reach the hikers.