ʻOpihi Picker Suffers Critical Injuries in Fall From Cliff in Haʻikū

Opihi, file photo by Wendy Osher.

By Maui Now Staff

A 38-year-old Maui man was airlifted to the hospital after falling 50 feet from a cliff while picking ʻopihi on Wednesday morning in Haʻikū, fire officials said.

The incident was reported at around 8:39 a.m. on Wednesday, May 20, 2015, at the bottom of Kepani Road.

Fire crews from Kahului arrived on scene at 9:06 a.m. to meet up with a bystander who witnessed the fall and directed first responders to the victim, said Maui Fire Services Officer Edward Taomoto.

Authorities say the man had been picking ʻopihi and was climbing along a steep cliff when he fell to the rocks below.

According to Taomoto, the man was found lying face down between boulders at the waters edge, but was conscious and breathing when crews arrived.

Crews used the department’s Air 1 helicopter to lift the man to a pasture where medics were awaiting to transfer the man to the Maui Memorial Medical Center in critical condition.