Missing Person Update: Maui Police Respond to 9-1-1 Call From Above Makawao Forest

Amanda Eller. Courtesy photos.

UPDATE: On Tuesday, May 14, 2019, a 9-1-1 call was received from an area above the Makawao Forest Reserve about possible additional information relating to the investigation into the missing person case involving 35-year-old Amanda Eller.

Maui Police Lt. Gregg Okamoto said police and fire personnel responded with the Fire Department sending out a helicopter and rescue crew to search by air and foot.

Rescue crews made it up almost two miles above the Kahakapao Trail before turning around due to the loss of daylight. The search resumed today at first light. In addition, the Police Department brought in additional search dogs from Oʻahu to assist.

“To date, the Police Department has received numerous tips and information and will continue to follow up with any and all leads. The public is encouraged to continue to share any information they may come upon that would assist with the investigation. The case is still classified as a Missing Person until information is received to indicate otherwise,” said Lt. Okamoto in a press release statement.

“Although we’ve classified this case as a Missing Person and have no evidence to suggest otherwise, Detectives from our Crimes Against Persons Unit are meticulously sorting through all the information and data we’ve obtained to find Ms. Amanda Eller. In addition, officers attached to our Special Response Team have put in many miles searching the denser sections of the forest reserve. We are grateful for the many tips and bits of information we received from the general public,” said Assistant Chief of Police Victor Ramos with the Investigative Services Bureau.

Also this morning, surveillance images were released of what appears to be Eller’s vehicle parked outside of the Haʻikū Market, and surveillance imagery within the store of Eller purchasing items on the morning of her disappearance.

On Friday, May 10, 2019, about 60 personnel from the Maui Police Department, Maui Fire Department, State DLNR Forestry, American Medical Response as well as volunteers from Maui Search & Rescue continued a coordinated search for Eller. About 50 volunteers from the public came throughout the day to assist with the search of both the east and west trails of the Kahakapao Loop in the Makawao Forest Reserve.

Eller was reported missing on May 9, 2019. She has not been seen or heard from since May 8, 2019 at about 7:30 a.m. Her Toyota RAV4 was found in a parking lot of the Makawao Forest Reserve on May 9, 2019.

Searches are being conducted on foot, to include the use of tracking dogs, as well as by air with the use of a helicopter and drones.

Search efforts started yesterday until nightfall and resumed at first light today and are on-going until darkness makes it too dangerous to continue.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Amanda Eller is asked to immediately call the Maui Police Department at (808)244-6400 or 9-1-1 in an emergency.