Hikers spend night lost on Maui
By Christie Wilson
Neighbor Island Editor
WAILUKU, Maui — Lost in 'Iao Valley with his new bride and a Maui friend, Perry Rozon of Saskatchewan said one thought kept running through his mind as they shivered in the dark on a makeshift bed of banana leaves:
Christie Wilson • The Honolulu Advertiser
"I was already reading the headlines of tomorrow's paper: 'Newlyweds from Canada lost in tropical forest,'" he said.
Tonya Tillman of Kihei, Maui, left, and newlyweds Lauren and Perry Rozon of Saskatchewan spent Thursday night lost in 'Iao Valley.
As it turned out, the news was good: Rozon, 38, his wife, Lauren, 32, and Maui friend Tonya Tillman made it out safely Friday morning after spending Thursday night without food, water or warm clothing.
The Rozons were married on Maui Sept. 14 and had befriended Tillman while visiting Hana.
At about 4 p.m. Thursday, the trio walked up to an observation shelter at 'Iao Valley State Park and then hiked along a more obscure path for a short distance. On the way, they met another hiker who told them that if they continued on for another 40 minutes, they'd reach a clearing with a spectacular view of the valley. Figuring there was plenty of daylight left to make the round trip, Tillman and the Rozons tramped ahead.
But after wandering for more than an hour, they realized they were lost, said Perry Rozon, an electronics technician. They had brought a cell phone, but it didn't work. As darkness descended on the valley, they zig-zagged downhill until about 10 p.m., when it became apparent they weren't going to find their way out, he said.
Soaking wet and wearing only lightweight shorts, T-shirts and shoes, they used banana leaves for a bed and for cover from the light rain.
Meanwhile, state parks workers noticed their car had been left overnight. Maui Fire Department rescuers and state conservation officers began searching for the missing hikers Friday morning.
At 8:30 a.m., the hikers hooked up with conservation officer Stanley Okamoto, and less than an hour later they were safe in the parking lot, with only some bruises and scratches and a honeymoon memory to take home to Regina, Saskatchewan.
