Visitor Airlifted from Crater in Weekend Rescue

Haleakalā silversword landscape. Photo by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Osher

Firefighters airlifted a 51-year old woman from Haleakalā National Park over the weekend following a reported case of altitude sickness.

The incident was reported at 3:49 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2014, about three miles into the Halemauʻu Trail and about a half-mile above the crater floor.

Crews from Rescue-10 out of Kahului, Engine-13 out of Kula, and the department’s Air-1 helicopter responded to the medical distress report and airlifted the woman to a landing zone at Hosmer Grove, according to department reports.

Maui Fire Services Chief Lee Mainaga said the woman, who was a visitor to the island, was transported by American Medical Response to the Maui Memorial Medical Center in stable condition.