For many people, hiking through the wild forest is an opportunity to commune with nature. It’s also a form of exercise and a way to discover new and beautiful vegetation that they have never seen before. However, even the more experienced hiker might one day take a wrong turn and end up stranded in the middle of nowhere. Amanda Eller had hiked through the beautiful Hawaiian forest in more than one occasion. But she soon would face one of the biggest challenges of her life after losing her way back. This is her inspiring story.

In a 2,000-acres Forest, Every Tree Might Look the Same

The Makawao Forest Reserve is one of the most beautiful and widest reserves in Hawaii. Aside from its beautiful beaches, Hawaii is also known for its large expanses of dense vegetation. In a place this big, things can get confusing easily. You can have the right shoes and clothing, but if you start seeing every tree as the same, it can get messy. What you might see as a landmark might very easily lead you in the wrong direction. With 2,000 acres, the Makawao reserve is no place to get lost. However, that was exactly what happened to Amanda Eller, who had to find a way to survive no matter what.

From the Yoga Mat to the Hawaiian Forest

Amanda Eller is a physical therapist and yoga instructor. She enjoys getting to know the spaces outdoors and communing with nature. This is why one of her favorite activities is hiking. She was planning on going for a short walk in the Hawaiian forest. However, she decided to take a different path than the ones she had previously taken. She wanted to get to know more about where she was. Amanda had done this before and had not encountered any issues. But unfortunately, this day would be the start of a 17-day-long journey.

Choosing to Live Was Amanda’s Most Important Decision

One of the things to highlight about Amanda Eller is her determination. Despite the many hardships she endured, she chose to live time and again. This story about resilience might very well teach us a thing or two. Especially important was the fact that she managed to use nature in her favor despite the many dangers she was facing. She definitely became an inspiration and how people took action in order to help her was also admirable. The volunteers who gathered to try to find her never gave up. Amanda's inspiring tale began when she tried to get back to her car but was unable to find it.

She Had Left Her Car Very Close to the Forest

In order to go on her walk, Amanda had parked her vehicle near to the forest. She went on her way and had a very enjoyable stroll. She even did a little bit of meditation as she liked to work on her mental health while she was there. When she was ready to go back, she headed to what she thought was the way back to her vehicle. However, she didn’t manage to find it. The volunteers would find her vehicle when they started the search and use it as a starting point to search for Amanda. Unfortunately, she was long gone from the area.

She Followed Her Gut But It Led Her to the Wrong Way

Amanda had always trusted her gut feeling. As many of us do, she has followed her instincts in many moments of her life. However, on this occasion, her instinct led her to the wrong way and she was unable to find her way back. She kept walking with the hope of making it back to her vehicle and for the whole thing to be a brief scare. She walked for hours, without knowing that she was getting deeper and deeper into the forest. Anxiety started to creep in, but she was determined to find her way. She was trudging for almost 12 hours but when night fell, she realized she was lost.

Getting Lost in Paradise Became Amanda’s Personal Hell

Amanda didn’t know which way to go. When it became late into the night, she decided to give in to her exhaustion and get some rest. She hoped her ordeal would end shortly. Her skin was starting to show the effects of the sun and she hurt all over. She had managed to drink water but had no food. As one day turned into another, she started getting heavily sunburnt and could do little about her skin care. After all, her priority should be survival and finding her way back. There wasn’t even much she could use to cover herself up. Meanwhile, her disappearance had been noticed.

No Stone Left  Unturned While Searching for Amanda

While Amanda was still trying to find her way back and getting blisters from the sun, the search for her had begun. Dozens of volunteers started making their way from the place where she had parked her car. Dogs were also used to try to figure out where she was. There was news of a possible sighting. According to other visitors in the forest, a woman matching Amanda’s description had petted their dog on the day she disappeared. The volunteers tried to look for her in the area near the alleged encounter. Unfortunately, it turned out that they had confused her with another woman. They weren’t anywhere closer to finding Amanda.

Amanda’s Parents Set a Reward

Amanda’s parents flew down to Maui when they found out about what had happened. They immediately set up a reward for anyone who could provide some leading information. Their daughter’s disappearance was their worst nightmare and it had come true. They set the reward initially at $10K but gradually increased it as the days went by. When two weeks had passed and there was still no sign of finding her, they made the reward $50K. They didn’t care how much cash they might have to spend. All they wanted was to get their daughter back. In the meantime, Amanda was learning surviving skills she never thought she would need.

Finding a Way to Sleep in the Menacing Forest

During the day, the reserve was quite beautiful, despite Amanda’s precarious situation. At night, however, she couldn’t see much and the imposing trees turned into menacing shapes. The temperature would drastically drop and she didn’t have the appropriate clothes with her. She made use of the resources she had and gathered leaves and ferns. She would use these at night in order to cover herself. On a couple of occasions, she resorted to dangerous measures, including sleeping in a den. She later realized it belonged to a wild boar. Thankfully, she was not harmed that night. The days passed by but she didn’t give up, and neither did the volunteers.

Braving the Wild Together To Find Amanda

Looking for Amanda was not free of danger. There were wild, aggressive boars – one volunteer got attacked by one - deep pools of water, and unsteady terrain. The volunteers searched for her wherever they thought she could be. Suspecting something terrible might have happened, they even killed some of the aggressive wild boars looking for human remains. Animal care advocates might not appreciate this. However, the volunteers were determined not to give up. They searched through the streams and dove into deep pools of water. They still thought they could find her, despite how much time had passed.

Amanda Had Little to Eat But Got What She Could from Nature

Amanda wasn’t completely sure about what was safe to eat and what wasn’t. However, her hunger was immense and she decided to risk it. She would collect berries and guava fruit. These two were her main sources of nutrition during the days she was lost. Given the insufficient food, she started to lose weight at a very fast pace. These fruits were not enough to keep her in good shape but they allowed her to survive. Amanda didn’t want to give up although there were moments in which she felt tempted to do so. She was exhausted, but she chose to live. Certain things gave her hope.

Seeing the Helicopters, But They Couldn’t See Her

Helicopters were also deployed to find Amanda. She could hear them and sometimes even see them. She would try to wave at them and make herself seen but it was difficult due to the abundant trees. However, this allowed her to continue to have hope. She knew they were out there looking for her and that she just had to stay alive long enough for them to find her. However, things were getting more complicated. She had lost her shoes after trying to dry them up and her feet were getting hurt. The people closest to her were all working together.

A True Test of Friendship: Javier Cantellops Joins the Search Team

Javier Cantellops, one of Amanda’s friends, joined the search team. He was heavily involved in mobilizing people as well as making sure the helicopter search continued. He felt this would be the best way to find Amanda. Her friends and her mom had repeatedly said that they knew she was out there, fighting to stay alive. Amanda was a survivor and her tenacity and resilience helped those who knew her to believe in her. The odds were not in her favor, but with every scan of the woods, the rescue team was getting closer and closer. Technology had also helped in searching for Amanda.

The Entire Country Learns About Amanda’s Disappearance

Thanks to the initiative of family members, two important online tools were employed. First, they created a Facebook page. Someone was dedicated to Social Media monitoring in case they were contacted. The intention was to spread the information as wide as possible to see if anyone knew or had seen something. The second tool they used was opening an account to raise funds for continuing Amanda’s search. They received thousands of donations via their GoFundMe profile. This allowed them to pay for necessary expenses during the search. After all, it had already been two weeks and they had almost exhausted most of their resources.

They Had to Expend Significant Resources to Keep Searching for Amanda

Given how much time had passed, the Maui Police and Fire Department had called off the search. This meant that Amanda’s family and friends had to look for a way to keep searching for her. They had the volunteers but they needed other things. Thanks to the money received through GoFundMe, they were able to hire a helicopter to keep searching for her. Thanks as well to the 'friends' of thousands of people on Social Media, they had enough to keep the search going. They knew Amanda wasn’t going to give up and neither were they. However, Amanda was having increasing troubles to keep going.

Amanda Didn’t Want to Give Up But She Could Barely Walk Anymore

The severe burns she had suffered got infected. One of her feet was most likely broken and she was feeling very weak. She had lost 20 pounds and could barely keep going. She was at her rope’s end. However, she managed to find the strength to continue. She would only drink clear water, as she didn’t want to get sick. Her health was deteriorating rapidly but she continued to use the very last of her energy. It was a good thing that she did because just when she thought it might be her end, something wonderful had happened.

Finally, the Helicopter Saw Her Too

In one of the volunteers' scans of the woods with the helicopter, they saw her waving at them. Finally, after 17 long and arduous days, Amanda had been found! They had to make a path towards her but she was so happy to see them that she didn’t mind the wait. Her resilience had not been in vain and she had never been abandoned. Amanda was in great spirits and everyone was beyond thrilled. They handed her a telephone so that she could give the good news to her mom and dad herself.

The Best Phone Call Her Father Had Ever Got

Despite her happiness, Amanda couldn’t help but break down in tears when she was speaking with her father. For him, it might have been one of the best moments of his life. They had started to think something more sinister might have taken place and feared greatly for her well-being. Knowing their daughter was alive and well was a huge relief. Furthermore, she was lucid. She remembered her dad’s contact number and was aware of how many days she had been stranded. One of the things that might have prolonged her survival the most was the fact that she had found clear water to drink.

A Joyous Time For Her Rescuers

Chris Berquist was one of the people who had helped in Amanda’s rescue. He was with Javier Cantellops in the helicopter and they saw her as she waved at them. He immediately reported it to the small command they had in place. He was one of the main promoters of working together in order to find Amanda. He posted a message on Social Media thanking everyone who had participated in some way or another in Amanda’s rescue. He felt this was a show of how much good a community could do when working together. One of the main questions people had was if Amanda was healthy. He was able to see that firsthand.

Amanda Was in Relatively Good Shape

As Chris had declared on the radio, Amanda was tired but in overall good shape. The most severe worries were the sunburns but other than that, she was surprisingly well. We might have expected her to be much weaker given her ordeal, but she had managed to stay relatively strong. Chris was surprised but pleased at her condition. It meant that her recovery was going to be a lot easier than they might have anticipated. Now, they needed to get her out on the helicopter and put her in an ambulance. It was time to get professional help for her minor injuries.

Being Airlifted Was Another Adrenaline Rush

Given the place where they found Amanda, the best way to get her out was airlifting her to the helicopter. This had an intrinsic danger but she was with one of the rescuers all the time. He assured her safety and tried to protect her injuries as much as he could. Once they were all inside the chopper, they proceeded to head back to where her transportation would be waiting. It was time to get Amanda to the hospital where she could get the medical attention she needed. What they would find there would surprise everyone.

Her Doctor Couldn’t Believe How Well She Was Doing

Amanda did, in fact, have a broken leg. Her left tibia had fractured during a slip. She had lost over 15 pounds, which was why she looked so thin. The infected sunburns where her doctor’s main worries. However, he said that after all the time that had passed and the ordeal she had suffered, she was in excellent shape. Given all the circumstances, Amanda’s fate could’ve been much more sinister. Thankfully, no wild animals attacked her, and she managed to use the natural resources available in order to get a bit of nourishment. She was on her way to a speedy recovery.

 A Thankful Mother Who Never Stopped Believing

Julia Eller gave a press conference while Amanda was still hospitalized and receiving treatment. She wanted to thank everyone for their immense and very significant support. Furthermore, she talked about her daughter’s resilience and how knowing how strong she was didn’t allow her, as her mother, to fall into a depression. Julia and her husband had started to think that maybe something terrible had happened to Amanda. However, they always tried to remain optimistic that she would be found, safe, and sound. Now, they had their daughter back, and she knew they couldn’t have done it without help.

The Rescuers’ Role Was Greatly Valued

Julia addressed the incredible determination of the rescuers as well. She was very thankful to them and to the people who had donated money from all over the world. Thanks to all the help they got, Amanda's family, friends, and rescue volunteers alike had been able to have what they needed to keep searching for Amanda. Despite the authorities stopping their search, the joint effort of the community had made the search possible and had brought their daughter back. As Julia had said, Amanda was making a quick recovery. In fact, she would be released shortly after, given how well she was healing.

How a Little Technology Could’ve Helped Immensely

Amanda told her mom that she hadn’t brought her cell phone. This, of course, could’ve made a world of difference in the events that took place. Thanks to the digital age, we have various types of GPS available that can easily tell us where to go when we are lost. Maybe Amanda would’ve found her way home in an easier way had she taken her cell with her. However, the important thing was that she was safe now. This can be seen as a lesson for many though. Despite our wanting to connect with nature, it is best to have one gadget to help us get out of trouble if needed.

 Amanda Was Immensely Thankful

Amanda wanted to address the people even when she was still hospitalized. She didn’t know how to thank everyone that, without even knowing her, had been willing to help her out. She was very touched when she found out about every donor who had helped build the GoFundMe. They had raised a lot of funds and that was what had helped in her rescue. She said that this sense of unity was one of the greatest things about Hawaii. When they could have given up on her, they continued to search, which meant the difference between her living and dying.

The Benefits of Being at Peace With Herself

Amanda had recently declared that she didn’t feel afraid during her ordeal. Aside from a few moments of despair, she tried to remain calm at all times. Thanks to the healthy lifestyle she had been leading, she was able to take care of her body and mind. This had helped her during the most difficult times and she described the experience as a spiritual journey. Where many would’ve given up, she saw it as a chance to grow and learn more about herself. Amanda is truly an inspiration for many. One of her acquaintances has revealed some interesting things.

Surrendering Her Fate to the Hands of a Higher Power

Sarah Haynes is one of Amanda’s acquaintances. She is a friend of Amanda’s boyfriend and has learned some more about what Amanda has gone through during those days. She said that for Amanda, the whole thing was about fighting to live, no matter what. In her moments of exhaustion, she would leave her fate in the hands of something bigger. She didn’t try to force this journey into something else. She simply let whatever was guiding her to take her through it and show her what she had to learn. And now, Amanda actually had a piece of advice for those fitness enthusiasts.

Amanda Turns Her Story Into a Cautionary Tale

Behind her 'spiritual journey' that she considered having ended up positive, she could see the terrible risks and how badly everything could have gone. She said there were many wild animals in the forest, which was their rightful home. Amanda realized she was lucky she wasn’t injured by any of them. From the experience, she said that people should always bring their phones and also, that they should overprepare, even if they’re just planning on a short hike. Amanda recommends that people bring at the very least, food, and water. This might come in handy when they least expect it.

After Her Ordeal, Amanda Had to Address the Media’s Controversial Questions

Many people seemed incredulous when Amanda opened up about what had happened to her. During the press conference she held, she was asked a controversial question. One of the media outlets wanted to know if she had taken any drugs before the hike. Amanda stated that all she had eaten was her regular protein shake and a snack bar. Furthermore, she elaborated that she would get her daily adrenaline rush from simply interacting with nature. She also gets her energy from interacting with people and that’s why she is willing to tell her story.

Talking to the Public For a Heartfelt Message

Amanda gave a press conference on May 28, 2019. This was an opportunity to show how much she had recovered and answer questions regarding the incident. But most of all, she wanted to use this as an opportunity to thank everyone who had gotten involved. According to her statements, this spiritual ordeal brought people together, in a way that she could’ve never anticipated. We can surely learn a lot from her strong spirituality and determination to love. Amanda could certainly sell many books talking about her survival story! Who knows, maybe this experience is the next bestseller in the making.