Chopper Rescues Maile Pickers Lost in Volcano Forest

Two Hilo residents who wandered off a trail while picking maile in Volcano this morning had to be rescued by a fire department helicopter.

The pair, described in a fire department statement as a man in his late 40s and a woman in her early 30s, got lost in the Olaa Forest Reserve. They were not identified.

After they used a cell phone to call 911 at 12:46 p.m., their location was determined by triangulation using cell phone towers, Battalion Chief Warren Sumida said.

Because of dense forest, the crew of Chopper 1 used a Billy Pugh net to pick up the pair.

They were airlifted to the Volcano transfer station. No medical assistance was required, fire department officials said.