Man Airlifted from Base of 50 Foot Cliff After Boat Runs Aground, Woman Climbs to Safety

Two mariners are safe after the boat they were in ran aground off of Honokalā Point along the North Shore of Maui in Haʻikū, Sunday morning.

The boaters were returning from a fishing trip at around 10:14 a.m. on Nov. 14, when the vessel struck rocks and became partially submerged offshore.

The 73-year-old man and 43-year-old woman, both Maui residents, were able to make a quick mayday call before swimming in rough waters to the rocky shoreline at the base of a 50-foot cliff.

The woman, managed to climb up to a residence on North Honokalā Road and call for help. The man was airlifted by firefighters aboard the Maui Fire Department’s Air 1 helicopter from the rocky shoreline below to a landing zone, where Medics were standing by to assess his condition. He was transported to the Maui Memorial Medical Center by ambulance for further care and evaluation.

Both suffered only cuts and scrapes in the incident.

The Maui Fire Department was called to the scene after the US Coast Guard received the mayday from the general vicinity. Responding units included: Engine 2, Rescue 10 on Air 1, Ocean Safety crews, and a Jetski unit.

The incident concluded at 12:46 p.m.