Hawai'i County Fire Department personnel tonight suspended a search for a missing maile picker in Puna's Kulani Forest Reserve due to darkness.

The search, which was suspended at 7 p.m., will tentatively resume tomorrow.

Fire Capt. James Tomosada said three men went into the forest at 1 p.m. yesterday and became separated. One of the three made it out and reported the other two missing.

Firefighters began searching for the two men today at 8:05 a.m. One of the two missing men, 19, walked out of the forest at Ihope Road at 10:30 a.m. as firefighters continued searching for the remaining missing man, 50.

The Fire Department helicopter and nine rescue specialists from two companies covered about 25 square miles between Stainback Highway and Ihope Road today. The forest area is thick with brush and today's conditions were cloudy and rainy, Tomosada said.