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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, October 30, 2009

Woman reported missing on Mauna Loa found in good health


West Hawaii Today

A 43-year-old Norwegian woman who had been reported missing while hiking the Mauna Loa summit crater Wednesday was found in good health yesterday afternoon.

Responding to a 10:02 p.m. report of a missing hiker on Mauna Loa, firefighters with the Kaumana, Central and Waiakea fire stations concluded the woman became separated from her husband after he sat down to rest and she continued to hike the volcano's summit.
Her husband attempted to locate her after she failed to return, but became disoriented and hiked down to the Mauna Loa Observatory to call for help.
Fire rescue personnel weren't able to locate her Wednesday and continued their search yesterday morning with the help of Chopper 1 and a private helicopter, said Waiakea Fire Station Capt. Keith Laeha.
The woman, who Laeha described as a "seasoned hiker," apparently spent the night at the summit after she found an area sheltered from the wind. After sunrise yesterday she hiked down to the 7,000-foot elevation where she was located around 1:30 p.m.
The woman required no medical attention and appeared to be in good health, Laeha said.