HI HI - 2 visiting hikers missing (1 found deceased), East Maui, 27 FEB 2021

[Dallas Volunteer]

Search Underway for Two Visitors Missing Near Waikamoi in East Maui | Maui Now

The search continues Sunday morning for two visitors who went missing during a hike makai (ocean side) of the Waikamoi Trail in East Maui on Saturday evening.

The visitors, both men in their 20s from California, were reporting missing by another member of their group at around 5:11 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 27.

Maui Fire Services Chief Rylan Yatsushiro says rescue crews reported heavy rains, flooding and flash flooding in the area, as well as a flash flood watch that was in effect from National Weather Service at the time. Maui remains under a flood watch through this afternoon.

Responding units initiated an air and ground search using multiple assets including: Engine 2 out of Pāʻia, Rescue 10 aboard the department’s Air 1 helicopter and personnel aboard a US Coast Guard helicopter out of Oʻahu.

The ground search continued until 9:30 p.m. on Saturday. The air search lasted for about an hour before Rescue 10 and Air 1 were redirected to Lānaʻi for response to a downed plane incident. The USCG helicopter conducted a night search in conjunction with Engine 2 personnel from 1:15 to 1:30 a.m., but found nothing, according to fire officials.

 

[10ofRods]

Maui's resources are definitely limited, with a population of just over 117,000 for the entire island. No names for these two missing men, yet.

 

[slowpoke]

Oh no—

Yesterday, MFD crews recovered the body of one of the hikers. The victim was found approximately 50-yards offshore where Waikamoi Stream enters the ocean.
Missing hiker found dead as MFD continues search and rescue efforts for second man

 

[slowpoke]

“The two visitors were both reported missing by another member of their group on Saturday, Feb. 27. Police say an investigation revealed that around 1:45 p.m., the two individuals went hiking to look at a waterfall. When they didn’t return by 4:30 p.m., their waiting party called for police assistance.”

The article gives the name of the victim they have recovered. He was 27, but from New Mexico, it states. The earlier articles say they were both from California. Maybe the one not found yet is. Per this article, searchers have not found the second missing person yet.

Body of One Victim Recovered, East Maui Search Continues for Second Missing Hiker | Maui Now

 

[JMapes]

There's an update to the aforementioned article:

Update: (8:24 p.m. 3.2.21) East Maui Search Terminated

After another full day of comprehensive search efforts with no findings, the Maui Fire Department has terminated the search in Waikamoi, fire officials said. Crews were searching for the second of two missing men who were lost during inclement weather at Waikamoi in East Maui on Saturday. The body of one of the men, Angelo Ruiz, 27, of New Mexico was recovered on Sunday morning.

(Body of One Victim Recovered, East Maui Search Terminated for Second Missing Hiker | Maui Now)

 

[Dallas Volunteer]

Maui residents say visitor education and safety need to be improved

Two deaths involving tourists in East Maui recently have residents concerned about visitor safety.

Rescue crews suspended the search for a missing hiker near the Waikamoi Trail this week. On Sunday, the body of a 27-year-old man from New Mexico was recovered.

A 26-year-old visitor from California died after being swept away in flash flooding in Waioka Pond two weeks ago. Residents say it could have all been prevented.

"A visitor education center would be at the beginning of the road to Hana elaborating the safety precautions and code of conduct that should be followed by every visitor and their families to make sure they travel safely,” said East Maui resident Kamalani Pahukoa.

Maui County officials like the idea. However, they say stopping visitors to educate them is not feasible.

“More education would be wonderful. If we can figure out a way for people to watch that, and if it was mandatory, wonderful. I’m not sure about the logistics on how that would work. The road to Hana, Hana Highway is a publicly traversed road,” said Managing Director Sandy Baz.

“Technically, it’s illegal. We cannot stop traffic on Hana Highway,” said State Senator for the area Kalani English. Instead, English says he is in the works of developing a reservation system. It started in Waianapanapa State Park this week. English says so far, it’s successful.

“The idea is to create a system that will help to create a reservation system along the way so that you have to be at a certain place at a certain time,” English said. “So, we’ve alleviated some of the peak time traffic. Then we’re trying to get the local business to join.”

Senator English hopes this reservation system will hopefully be used one day for the entire Valley Isle.