2 Hunters Airlifted from Makawao Forest Reserve

Makawao Forest Reserve rescue, July 4, 2013. Photo courtesy BH.

By Wendy Osher

Two hunters from the same group were airlifted from the Makawao Forest Reserve in separate search and rescue missions, officials said.

The first response was to a woman who suffered an ankle injury and was unable to make it out of the area on her own.

The incident was reported at 1:15 p.m., on Thursday July 4, 2013, in a densely forested ravine.

Authorities say the 28-year-old woman was located and flown to a landing zone within the Piiholo Water Treatment facility.

The woman then met up with family members who took her to seek further medical attention, officials said.

Firefighters returned to the scene to conduct a search for one of the hunters who left the group to head back to the truck at around the same time the 911 call was made.

Authorities launched the search when they learned that the man did not make it back to the truck.

The search was suspended at at around 1:30 a.m., and resumed at around 6:15 this morning.

Maui Fire Services Chief Lee Mainaga said the 26-year-old man was located by crews aboard the department’s Air-1 helicopter at around 6:40 a.m., in an area mauka of where the female was picked up yesterday.  He said the man was airlifted to the same landing zone utilized by the earlier rescue.

According to FS Chief Mainaga, the man was safe and required no medical attention.

The remaining male, who stayed with the injured female, reportedly walked out of the trail on his own with his dogs yesterday.

Crews responding to the scene included Enigne-5 from Makawao, Rescue-10 from Kahului, and the Maui Department of Fire and Public Safety’s Air-1 helicopter.