Makawao Forest Reserve
Makawao Forest Reserve is a 2,093 acres (847 ha) reserve located in upcountry Maui in Maui County, Hawaiʻi, United States on the northwest slope of Haleakala. It is located 2.7 miles (4.3 km) from the town of Makawao and 15 miles (24 km) from Kahului Airport.
| Makawao Forest Reserve | |
|---|---|
 Volunteers building a trail. | |
| Location | Maui |
| Nearest town | Makawao |
| Coordinates | 20°49′55″N 156°16′31″W |
| Area | 2,093 acres (847 ha) |
| Elevation | 1,591 ft (485 m) |
Many indigenous and foreign plants, shrubs and trees grow in the forest. They include tropical ash, Cook pine, hala pepe, eucalyptus, leʻle, mamaki, pilo and kupukupu. It is also the home and origin of Hyposmocoma makawao which is a species of moth in the family Cosmopterigidae.
There are seven developed trails including Kahakapao Loop, Pineapple Express, Renegade Trail, Ravine Trail, Secret Trail and Tweener Trail. The Kahakapao Loop is the main trail which is 6.2 miles (10 km) long.
Admission is free and walking and mountain-bike trails are open to the public from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. There are two portable toilets available for visitors and one is suitable for wheelchairs.
In the news
On May 8, 2019, 35-year-old Haiku, Hawaii resident and yoga teacher Amanda Eller did not return from a hike. The next day a search ensued that eventually included Maui police, hundreds of volunteers, Maui Fire Department, local and Oahu search and rescue dogs and helicopters.
On May 24, 2019, Eller was found by a helicopter that her father funded.[1] She had fallen from a 20-foot cliff into a ravine 4 miles (6 km) from her vehicle. Eller had sustained leg injuries including a fracture, and was 20 pounds (9 kg) underweight when found. She survived by drinking water from a nearby waterfall and foraging for food.[2]