Paraglider Walks Away From Hard Landing Above Lahainaluna “L”

Lahaina, file photo by Wendy Osher.

Firefighters on Monday responded to a report of a paraglider crash landing in the hills above the Lahainaluna at 2:22 p.m.

The fire department helicopter that was at a brushfire in Kahikinui was dispatched to the scene.

Lahaina firefighters arrived at the Lahainaluna football field to interview the caller at 2:47 p.m.

Two students from Lahaina Intermediate School witnessed a paraglider collapse and spiral down out of sight near the Lahainaluna “L” on the mountain above the school.

Air 1 arrived at 3:10 p.m. and spotted a male paraglider several hundred yards behind the “L” indicating that he was okay.

The fire department’s helicopter airlifted the 36-year-old Lahaina man to the football field at Lahainaluna High School with non-life threatening injuries.

Paramedics evaluated him, but the man declined transport for further treatment. He was driven by a family member to Maui Memorial Medical Center instead.

The man was paragliding by himself and was searching the area for thermal updrafts when he encountered a strong downdraft that collapsed his wing.

He landed hard in an fairly flat area above the “L” and was sitting up when firefighters got to him.

Firefighters from Lahaina, a rescue crew out of Kahului and Air 1 responded to the rescue.