Three Hikers Airlifted, Stranded by Flood Waters at “Bamboo Forest”

Bamboo Forest Rescue. Maui Now graphic.

By Maui Now Staff

Three people were airlifted to safety after becoming stranded by flood waters at the area often referred to as the “Bamboo Forest Trail” in the Kailua area of East Maui.

The incident was reported at 1:09 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2015.

When Pāʻia firefighters arrived on scene at 1:25 p.m., they met with hikers who said three people were trapped on the Kahului side of the stream near the first pond.

Maui Fire Services Officer Edward Taomoto said crews aboard the department’s Air 1 helicopter located and airlifted one-by-one, 2 males and a female from the stream bank to a pasture near Hāna Highway.

Authorities say a male visitor from Canada got separated from his group and couldn’t cross the stream because of rising waters. He was joined by a female from Wailuku and her male friend visiting from out-of-state.   All three hikers were in their early to mid-twenties.

Maui fire officials say the individuals were on their way back to the parking lot when they were stranded on the last crossing. Stream flows had risen high enough that they opted to wait rather than risk the crossing, said FSO Taomoto.

Rescue crews delivered the last hiker to the landing zone by 2 p.m. All three were uninjured.

The incident comes on the heels of  another air rescue in the same area earlier in the week.  On Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2015, 16 hikers were rescued from the Kailua area of east Maui on Tuesday afternoon after they became trapped by swollen stream waters.