Two visitors had to be plucked out by helicopter on Wednesday after rapidly rising waters trapped them in the Bamboo Forest near Mile 5 of the Hāna Highway in East Maui. The pair got separated from their hiking party when a suddenly swollen stream made crossing impossible, and rescue crews called in a chopper to pull them out. Teams then swept the surrounding area to make sure no one else was stranded.
How the rescue unfolded
The emergency call came in at 2:12 p.m., and Rescue 10, flying aboard Air 1, located the pair and lifted them to safety, according to Maui Now. The visitors were identified as a 30-year-old woman from Georgia and a 25-year-old man from Florida. Firefighters on Engine 2 and other units also responded, and crews wrapped up their work at 3:44 p.m.
Weather and warnings
Heavy rain and flash flooding are a familiar hazard along the Road to Hāna, and the National Weather Service in Honolulu had flash flood warnings posted for parts of Maui this week. The agency's forecast page showed active warnings for the island as officials urged people to be careful on slick trails and near stream crossings that can rise fast after heavy showers, according to the National Weather Service.
A familiar danger spot
The Bamboo Forest stretch has long been notorious among first responders. Years ago, crews had to airlift a dozen hikers from the same area after a sudden surge in the stream, a reminder of how quickly East Maui waters can spike, as documented by Maui Now. That history helped spur local efforts to discourage roadside parking and put up no-parking signs at popular pullouts along the Hāna Highway.
Officials urge caution
The County of Maui posts current alerts and safety tips on its official website and urges hikers to check conditions before heading out and to avoid crossing swollen streams, according to the County of Maui. Residents and visitors can sign up for emergency notifications and are asked to honor closures and no-parking zones to cut down on preventable, high-risk rescues.
