Maui Fire Department Rescues Injured Hiker

Maui Fire Department personnel responded to a report of a hiker in distress in the Kahikinui Forest Reserve in South Maui on Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018.

At approximately 5:41 p.m., Engine 13 and Mini 13 from the Kula Fire Station and were dispatched to an area near mile marker 28 on Pi‘ilani Highway based on a report of a hiker in need of rescuing.

Enroute to the incident, Rescue 10 from the Kahului Fire Station and Engine 5 from the Makawao Fire
Station were also dispatched to assist with the situation because of approaching darkness and the fact that Air-1 would be not available for the rescue due to lack of sunlight.

Engine 13 personnel arrived at the scene at 6:26 p.m. and was directed to the fallen hiker by his female hiking companion. When Engine 13 personnel got to the area where the hiker had fallen, they observed a male hiker that had fallen approximately 60 feet down from the trail’s edge; the hiker was lodged in a small crevice and called back to fire personnel when they tried to inform him that they were there to help.

Fire personnel hiked down and assisted the patient, a 27-year-old Hawai‘i resident who was conscious and alert.

The fallen hiker had suffered multiple injuries that included open fractures to his right wrist and right femur and numerous cuts and bruises on his arms and face; there were no obvious signs of neck or spinal injuries.

Fire personnel provided first aid to the patient and prepped for his rescue.

Rescue 10 and Engine 5 personnel were top-side and prepared a rope system to do the high-angle rescue. A stokes basket was used to carry the patient. One rescue personnel was attached to the basket to guide it up, and the remaining fire personnel used the rope system to hoist the patient to safety and awaiting medics from Medic 11.

The victim was transported to the hospital; his current status is unknown at this time. The rescue took about two hours to complete.

The male hiker is a resident of the Big Island and his female hiking companion is a Maui resident. The trail used by the hikers is not a well-known or often-used trail.