Firefighters airlift stranded hunters from Maui forest

Maui County firefighters rescued three hunters in Keanae after they became stranded due to rapidly rising stream waters.

Two men of Kihei, both in their early 20s, and a 17-year-old Waikapu boy went on a pig-hunting trip early Saturday in the Honomanu Bay area.

As they made their way back to the stream bed, the trio crossed earlier, the Maui County Fire Department said they observed instead a “torrential river” and were unable to cross.

The group called 911 on their cell phone shortly after 4 p.m. Saturday.

Firefighters responded and found their vehicle parked on Hana Highway near Kaumahina State Wayside Park. Firefighters instructed the hunters via cellphone to find an opening in the dense forest to enable a rescue helicopter to spot them.

The fire department launched its Air 1 helicopter and spotted the hunters on a ridge about a mile mauka of the park. The hunters were safely airlifted to the park by 6:05 p.m.

No injuries were reported.

During their rescue, firefighters received a call from a separate hunting group stranded on the opposite side of the rising stream waters, at the Bamboo Forest in Kailua.

Due to nightfall, dispatchers advised the group to shelter in place and not to attempt to cross the stream. They informed the hunters that firefighters will arrive at dawn.

At about 5:30 a.m. Sunday, firefighters were about to head to Bamboo Forest when dispatchers informed them the group had safely made it out on their own.