Honolulu firefighters tonight rescued five hikers in Windward O'ahu and will resume an air search tomorrow at 6 a.m. for two others stranded somewhere in the hills behind Tripler Medical Center.

The two cases are unrelated.

HFD spokesman Capt. Earle Kealoha said a company from the Olomana station hiked into Maunawili and guided three men and two women, all of them military, to safety. The firefighters located three of the hikers shortly before 8 p.m. and the other two at 8:16 p.m.

Kealoha said the group started the hike late this afternoon and requested help due to darkness. No injuries were reported.

Meanwhile, HFD's air search for a man and woman was suspended at 9:30 p.m. due to heavy cloud cover. The hikers are in cellphone contact with HFD. The called for help at 7:17 p.m.

The pair set out on a hike to "Stairway to Heaven" in Haiku Valley, and their only source of light in a cigarette lighter, according to Kealoha.