Hiker Airlifted After 60-Foot Jump

Mountain rescue. Graphics by Wendy Osher.

Fire crews received a report at 3 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017, about a man in the Commando Hike area who was injured after he jumped from a waterfall and was not able to move.

At 3:36 p.m. firefighters met with the victim’s friends at the trailhead on Hāna Highway near mile marker 6.

They learned that the victim was stranded at the second pond after he jumped from a 60-foot waterfall and was injured upon landing.

Despite a low cloud cover and rain in the area, the fire department’s Air 1 helicopter was able to reach the victim, who was about 1.5 miles mauka of the Hāna Highway.

Rescue crews stabilized his injuries and airlifted him to a pasture next to the highway, where he was transferred to paramedics at around 5:45 p.m.

The 30-year-old male victim was taken by ambulance to Maui Memorial Medical Center in serious condition.

The man is a visitor to the island. His hometown was not available.

He had been hiking with four other friends when the accident happened.

Engine 2 from Pā‘ia and Rescue 10 from Kahului responded to the rescue.