Maui Woman Airlifted in Pali Trail Rescue

Pali rescue. Photo courtesy Maui Fire Department.

By Wendy Osher

Maui Fire crews used a portion of the Honoapiilani Highway as a landing zone during the rescue of a hiker on the Pali Trail.

The incident was reported at 12 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 27.

Engine-1 and Rescue-10 were dispatched to respond to the report of a stranded hiker approximately one mile up on the Lahaina side of the trail, said Maui Fire Services Chief Lee Mainaga.

Engine-1 made contact with the caller and decided that the Department’s Air- 1 helicopter was the best option to rescue the hiker.

According to Mainaga, Air-1 responded by dropping off a rescuer with the victim and returned to airlift the hiker in a basket to the landing zone where crews from Medic 4 were standing by.

The woman, identified as a 65-year-old Lahaina resident suffered from dehydration and lethargy, said Mainaga.

She reportedly started her hike in Maalaea and made it to the 1 mile marker before feeling faint.