Visitor Falls 50 Feet at Honokohau, Lands on Friend

The mountain rescue incident was reported in the mountain region near mile post 37 of the Honoapiilani Highway. File photo by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Osher

A 21-year-old woman from Jacksonville, Florida was immobilized when her friend fell 50 feet and landed on top of her during a hike in the hills above Honokohau in West Maui today (Thursday, April 12, 2012), officials said.

The incident was reported at 4:46 p.m. in the area sometimes referred to as the Three Sisters or Chutes and Ladders near Mile Marker 37 of the Honoapiilani Highway.

According to fire officials, a 30-year-old woman from Flagstaff, Arizona fell as she lost her grip on a rope she was using to assist her as she made her way down the mountain. Authorities say the woman who fell suffered only minor injuries including scrapes and bruises as she fell descended a 75 degree sloped section of the mountain.

The Florida woman at the bottom of the mountain suffered possible head and neck injuries in the incident, said Maui Fire Services Chief Lee Mainaga.

Both women were airlifted to a landing zone by crews from Rescue-10 who utilized the department’s Air-1 helicopter.

The woman who fell was treated by medics and released at the scene.  The woman at the bottom of the mountain was transported by ambulance to the Maui Memorial Medical Center.  The severity of her injuries were unknown at last report.

Another individual, a 25-year-old man, also sustained minor scrapes during the incident, but was treated and released after climbing back up the mountain on his own, authorities said.

Also responding to the scene were firefighters from Engine-11 in Napili.