Lost Hiker at ʻĪao Rescued After Overnight Stay

A hiker is safe this morning after spending the night in the forest above ʻĪao Valley State Park.

The 52-year-old woman is a resident of San Diego, CA, and is staying with friends who live on Maui.

She tells Maui Now that she fell about 15 feet after becoming lost just before nightfall on Tuesday, May 17, 2016.

A friend who she was staying with had texted her on Tuesday afternoon to arrange for her pickup.  That’s when emergency crews were alerted to the situation.

Despite being cold and suffering a few scrapes from foliage, the woman escaped uninjured.

Firefighters hiked about an hour to get to the woman who was located about three miles up on the left side of the valley.

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Maui fire crews resumed their search for a lost hiker this morning at ʻĪao Valley State Park.

At around 6:05 a.m., fire crews spotted the female hiker about three miles up on left side of valley where the river splits.

The woman will be airlifted out of the area and taken to a command post set up in the parking lot area.

The search began at dusk on Tuesday, May 17, but was suspended at nightfall.

Fire crews, including the department’s Air-1 helicopter were called to the scene to resume the search at first light this morning.

ʻĪao Valley rescue (5.18.16) Photo by Wendy Osher.

ʻĪao Valley rescue (5.18.16) Photo by Wendy Osher.

ʻĪao Valley rescue (5.18.16) Photo by Wendy Osher.

ʻĪao Valley rescue (5.18.16) Photo by Wendy Osher.

ʻĪao Valley rescue (5.18.16) Photo by Wendy Osher.

Air Rescue Maui, graphics by Wendy Osher.