Kahului Teen Airlifted from Waterfall at Makamakaole, Kahakuloa

March 13, 2017 · 2:45 AM UTC
* Updated March 13, 2017 · 10:11 PM

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Fire crews responded to mile marker 8 of Kahekili Highway for a male teenager who jumped into a pond in Makamakaole Gulch and could not climb up the steep ascent. The report was made at around 3:33 p.m. on Sunday, March 12, 2017, and Wailuku firefighters arrived at 3:52 p.m. to meet with friends of the teenager.

Firefighters were told two males had jumped off a 30-foot waterfall, landing in a pond below. One of the teens managed to scale his way back up, but a 17-year-old male from Kahului could not make it up due to the wet and slippery conditions on the vertical cliff face.

Maui Fire Services Chief Edward Taomoto said firefighters hiked down about a half-mile makai of Kahekili Highway to reach the teen and determined that the helicopter was needed. The Air 1 helicopter flew in and safely airlifted the teen to Kahekili Highway at 4:45 p.m.

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The Kahului teen did not require any medical attention. He was hiking with five other teenage males, all Maui residents. A Wailuku engine and Kahului rescue crew responded to the incident.

This was the second rescue in as many days from the Makamakaole area. On Friday, an Idaho man was airlifted to safety when he was injured in a fall while hiking in the area. The man was located and plucked from the base of a 90-foot waterfall. He was transported to the hospital in stable condition for treatment of a head injury.

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RESCUE AT MAKAMAKAOLE GULCH, KAHAKULOA: Crews are responding to a report of a male individual that is unable to climb up from a swimming hole. The incident was reported shortly before 4 p.m. on Sunday, March 12, 2017. The Maui fire department’s Air 1 helicopter, Rescue 10 and Engine 1 are responding.