Lost Hikers Rescued from Polipoli

Polipoli. File photo by Wendy Osher.

A 29-year-old man and 30-year-old woman from Lahaina were rescued from the Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area, in Upcountry Maui after they became disoriented and lost on Sunday night.

Fire officials say the hikers came upon a landslide and continued around it, but became disoriented and lost after losing reference with the marked trail.

According to department reports, the couple eventually made it back to a trail, but called for help when they did not know their way out.

The incident was reported at around 5:16 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 29, 2015.

Kula firefighters were able to communicate with the lost hikers via cell phone, and instructed them to stay put, and remain on a marked trail so they could be easily located. Along with the hikers’ GPS position obtained by 9-1-1 dispatchers, firefighters began searching the Kula forest at around 6:10 p.m.

Maui Fire Services Officer Edward Taomoto said firefighters found the two hikers about 20 minutes into the Redwood Trail.  Firefighters reportedly hiked them back to their car near the park campgrounds at 6:50 p.m.

Fire officials say the hikers were uninjured.