Parents of missing Maui female hiker offer $10,000 reward

HAIKU — The parents of a Hawaii woman reported missing after she went hiking have offered a $10,000 reward, a spokesperson said.

Amanda Eller, 35, was last seen Wednesday on a trail in the Makawao Forest Reserve on Maui, The Maui News reported Sunday.

Eller’s parents offered the reward for information leading to her safe return prior to their scheduled arrival on Maui Sunday with other members of the Maryland-based family.

Eller’s vehicle was found with her cellphone and wallet inside in a parking lot at the reserve 12 miles (19 kilometers) from her home in Haiku.

She was reported missing Thursday and a ground and air search was launched. The search has included tracking dogs, helicopters, drones, and hundreds of volunteers on foot, authorities said.

The physical therapist may have fallen and lost consciousness, but her friends also worry something more dangerous could have occurred, family spokeswoman Sarah Haynes said.

“Generally speaking, it’s highly likely she’s lost or injured in this forest, and its equally as likely that she was intercepted by someone in the parking lot or on her run,” Haynes said. “As the days go by, and more and more people are in the forest, we get closer and closer to foul play.”

Eller’s friends have asked for help from experienced rapellers and hunters.

“We are not anywhere near stopping this search,” Haynes said. “We are just getting started. You can live three weeks without food, and there are a lot of water sources up there.”