Two Dead After Truck Falls 150 Feet Down Cliff into Ocean at Maliko, Maui

Update: 11:35 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 3 

The two females who died in a vehicle accident on Saturday night have been identified as 23-year-old Breeze Kalalau of Hāna and 21-year-old Rhe-Zhene Puailihau of Kahului.

Kalalau, the driver, was wearing her seatbelt when the Toyota Tacoma plunged about 188 feet down a cliff in Maliko, according to Maui police. The passenger, Puailihau, was not wearing her seatbelt.

The involvement of speed, drugs, and alcohol in this incident has not been determined as the investigation is still pending.

These deaths bring Maui Countyʻs vehicle fatalities to 19 this year, compared to 16 at the same time last year.

Update: 6:35 a.m., Sunday, Nov. 3

Two occupants of a Toyota Tacoma are dead after the vehicle plunged 150 feet down a cliff in Maliko Gulch on Maui Saturday night.

The incident was reported at 8:54 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019 along the Hāna Highway (36), about 1.4 miles east of Holomua Road in Haʻikū.

Police say the silver 2020 Toyota Tacoma was traveling east on the Highway when it failed to negotiate the curve at Maliko Gulch and traveled off the paved roadway, onto the dirt overlook. The Toyota then continued within the dirt overlook of Maliko Gulch, until it collided into and then over the dirt embankment, and then fell approximately 150’ down the cliff and landed on its roof partially submerged.

According to preliminary reports, the operator and passenger within the vehicle died at the scene.

The identities of both driver and passenger are unknown at this time, however this story will be updated once positive identification has been made and families of the victims have been notified.

The investigation is ongoing.