A hiker in his mid-20s was killed on Maui yesterday after being trapped beneath a boulder during a landslide.

The man, who authorities believe was from the Mainland, was hiking with a group of people in an area known locally as Lelekea Gulch, which is in the Kipahulu area and in or near Haleakala National Park, said Hana Fire Capt. Sheldon Holokai.

A landslide sent a boulder careening downhill, trapping the man beneath it.

The hiker's companions went for help. Other hikers, area farm workers and park rangers went to the man's assistance, and the Fire Department was notified at 2:54 p.m.

The area where the man was found was in rough terrain, and it took firefighters 20 minutes to hike it, Holokai said.

When they reached the hiker, those helping him had removed the boulder.

The Fire Department's Air One and Rescue 10 came in to assist, and paramedics from American Medical Response waited below on Hana Highway.

Firefighters prepared the man for transport and the helicopter airlifted him down to paramedics, where medical authorities pronounced him dead.

Reach Karen Blakeman at kblakeman@honoluluadvertiser.com.