Male Victim Found Within Vehicle at Base of 100 Foot Nākālele Cliff

Maui Now graphic. Background image, file photo.

Maui firefighters recovered the body of man from a vehicle that was found resting at the bottom of a cliff near mile marker 38 on Kahekili Highway in West Maui.

Firefighters received the call at 4:50 p.m. on Monday, May 22, 2017, that an opihi picker came across a vehicle with a body inside.

Fire officials say the person believed the vehicle had gone off the cliff and was resting on the rocky shoreline. Maui Fire Services Chief Edward Taomoto said that initially it was thought that the vehicle was in the Kahakuloa area, but a poor cell phone connection made it difficult to confirm the exact location.

At 5:38 p.m., the fire department helicopter found the vehicle at the base of a 100-foot cliff, below the Nākālele Lighthouse. Fire rescue personnel were lowered in by rope from Air-1 and extricated the male victim from the vehicle, who authorities say, was already deceased.

The male victim was airlifted at 6:20 p.m. to Kahekili Highway and was transferred to police for investigation and identification of the victim.  Maui police will release the identity of the victim upon proper notification of next of kin.

A battalion chief and firefighters from Wailuku, Nāpili, and Kahului responded to the incident.