Hiker Airlifted from Haleakalā Crater

Mountain rescue: Haleakalā. Background image credit: Wendy Osher.

On Friday, Jan. 1, 2016, at 5:11 p.m., firefighters responded to a hiker with a medical condition in Haleakalā Crater.

A rescue crew aboard the fire department’s Air 1 helicopter was dispatched to locate the hiker before darkness hampered the search.

Air 1 located the 71-year-old Maui man about a mile from the top of Halemauʻu Trailhead in the crater and airlifted the man to Hosmer’s Grove where paramedics evaluated him at around 6:05 p.m.

His two granddaughters, ages 15 and 19, who were hiking with him, were airlifted out also.

Fire officials say the man was having trouble breathing and could not walk out the mile or so to the trailhead. Another hiker called for help after they got a cell phone signal near the trailhead.

The man declined transport by paramedics and left the scene with his granddaughters.

Firefighters from Kula, rescue 10 from Kahului, and Haleakalā National Park Rangers responded to the incident.