Visitor Airlifted From ʻĪao Valley After Injuring Ankle in Solo Hike

ʻĪao Valley rescue, 5.20.15. Photo credit: Maui Department of Fire and Public Safety.

By Maui Now Staff

A 40-year-old woman from British Columbia, Canada was airlifted from ʻĪao Valley after falling and injuring her ankle while hiking on a trail by herself, fire official said.

The incident was reported at 3:57 p.m. on Wednesday, May 20, on a trail above the lookout at ʻĪao Valley State Park in Wailuku.

According to department reports, the woman slipped and injured her ankle while descending on a trail about a mile into the trail.

Fire officials say emergency dispatchers were able to lock-in the woman’s location via GPS, when she called with her cell phone for help.

Maui Fire Services Officer Edward Taomoto said conditions on the trail proved extremely hazardous to carry the woman out on foot, so a Kahului rescue aboard Air 1 airlifted her to the parking lot where she was treated and transported by paramedics to the hospital with minor injuries.