Coastal cliffs and dunes, rain forests, lava rock terrain and high alpine deserts. Hawaii’s variety-pack of ecosystems — along with picture-ready panoramic views — attract countless hikers to trails across the islands. While inviting, many paths can also be treacherous, especially for the ill-prepared hiker.
Some wind through densely wooded and frequently muddy micro-climates, while others cross brittle-dry stretches of crumbly basalt rock. There are also ridge-line trails with sharp drop-offs, leaving zero margin for misplaced footing. Commonplace on even well-maintained trails are tripping obstacles, such as jutting rocks and roots.
Clearly, a hiker who strays off a trail for whatever reason can run into trouble quickly. That’s what happened to Amanda Eller, the 35-year-old yoga instructor and physical therapist who was found alive Friday after surviving 17 days in the rugged forest above Makawao in Upcountry Maui.
Hers is a riveting story of perseverance — complete with a near-miraculous, joyful ending in which the missing hiker was reunited with family and others linked to a resolute search effort. However, Eller’s story is also a cautionary tale.
Shortly after Eller was airlifted to safety, her father, John Eller, said he had remained confident his daughter could survive being stranded in the wilderness. “She was prepared for this. We said that at the beginning and it was absolutely true,” he said.
While true that this hiker was physically fit and mentally tough enough to survive beyond the two-week mark in an expansive wilderness area with steep ascents, it’s also apparent that she was woefully unprepared in a practical sense.
For starters, while setting out for a short outing on a path she was acquainted with — Kahakapao Trail, a 6-mile loop known as a go-to for mountain-biking — Eller left her cell phone in her car, parked near the base of the trail. Further, she was without key safety- related items.
Sierra Club of Hawaii, which has been leading hikes and service projects in the islands for five decades, tells hikers to bring at least a liter of water (two liters for strenuous hikes) and a day-pack to carry trail food, sunscreen, insect repellent and rain gear. Shoes should have traction grooves; slippers are essentially off-limits.
Boy Scouts and other groups advise also packing a compass, flashlight, matches, pocketknife, whistle, first aid kit, area maps, and duct tape. While carrying these items may slow a hiker’s pace, they can help minimize trail troubles — and spare counties the safety risks and hefty price tags tied to search-and-rescue conducted by foot and air.
The state’s Department of Land and Natural Resources, through its Na Ala Hele program, oversees conditions on more than 120 trails and roads (covering a total of 855 miles) managed for public use. Foliage overgrowth and erosion on the trails require steady attention.
Before arriving at a trail head, DLNR advises hikers to let someone know which trail and expected return time. Should something go wrong, rescuers would then know where to start searching. In addition, hikers should pick trails that match their level of ability.
Na Ala Hele’s website (https://hawaiitrails.hawaii.gov/trails/#/) includes details about trail difficulty levels as well as amenities, safety and hazard warnings, weather and trail head directions via GPS.
In a weekend Facebook video from her hospital bed, Amanda Eller said she “chose life,” refusing to give up during her ordeal; and expressed gratitude for the tenacious search. To pay forward good will, Eller should consider spreading the word on how to arrive at a Hawaii trail well prepared — so that a lost hiker can either find his or her way back to the trail, or prompt a speedy rescue.
