New York Woman Rescued from ‘Iao Valley

‘Iao Valley, photo by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Osher

A 26-year-old woman from New York was rescued from ‘Iao Valley State Park where she got separated from the group that she was hiking with.

The incident was reported at 7:01 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013.

According to authorities, the woman was visiting the park on a group retreat when she got separated, disoriented, and mistakenly hiked deeper into the valley when she thought she was walking out.

When darkness set in, authorities said she texted her group that she was lost and rescue crews were dispatched to assist.

Firefighters searched for about 45 minutes before finding the woman along the river, about a half-mile above the end of the marked walking path, said Maui Fire Services Chief Lee Mainaga.

The woman was uninjured and firefighters walked her out safely to the parking lot.