Visitor Airlifted After Fall at “Bamboo Forest” on Maui

The Bamboo Forest. Photo by Vanessa Wolf

By Wendy Osher

A 30-year-old female visitor was airlifted from the the Kailua area of East Maui on Monday, Sept. 8, after suffering injuries in a fall while hiking in the area often referred to as the “Bamboo Forest.”

The incident was reported at 2:58 p.m. on a mountain trail near mile 6.5 of the Hāna Highway in an area described as the “second pool.”

Fire officials say a caller reported that the woman fell approximately 15 feet, and suffered a possible head injury.

Kahului Fire Rescue personnel used the department’s Air 1 helicopter to locate and airlift the victim to a secured landing zone, according to Maui Fire Services Chief Lee Mainaga.

Officials say that upon landing, the woman was carried to Air Med-1 and transported to the hospital for further treatment.

According to FS Chief Mainaga, the woman suffered a left arm injury and a possible head injury, and was conscious when she was loaded for transport to the hospital.

Other crews responding to the scene included firefighters from Engine 2 out of Pāʻia and Medic 2.

Maui fire crews conducted a similar air rescue in the same area on Sunday, August 10, 2014.  In that incident, a 28-year-old man from Argentina was rescued after suffering from a possible dislocated shoulder.  On October 30, 2013, a visitor from Seattle, Washington was airlifted from the Kailua area after slipping on rocks and suffering a possible lower left leg fracture.  On Friday, Sept. 20, 2013, a California man was airlifted from the area after falling approximately 15-feet at a pool in the area.