A teenage college student lost their life after slipping from a muddy hiking trail in Hawaii during an illegal New Year’s Eve party.
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Tiare Couto, 19, tragically fell to her death on the morning of January 1 while leaving the Pūpūkea-Paumalū State Park Reserve in Oahu during heavy rain, per local news outlet The Honolulu Civil Beat. Over 200 teenagers and young adults convened for the annual unauthorized party in a secluded, forested area along the trail.
Per the local outlet, a Honolulu police report reveals that a group of young women approached an officer in an elementary school parking lot near the trailhead around 12:30 a.m. They reported losing their friend while leaving a crowded party. The officer stayed with the women for three hours, waiting as other attendees gradually emerged from the trail.
By 4 am, the police officer was informed that Couto, from Oahu, was still missing. She hadn’t left the trail with the others. The officer investigated the trail and heard someone screaming for help, according to the report.
The Honolulu Fire Department responded to the scene to rescue her from the woods. Around 6 a.m., emergency services transported her to the hospital, where she was listed in critical condition.
Couto later died from her injuries in the hospital.
Phillip Verso, an investigator with the Honolulu Medical Examiner’s Office, told Civil Beat that her cause of death was a “penetrating injury.”
The Annual Illegal Party Has Long Been a Concern for Locals
The annual party has been a growing concern among locals. Each year, young attendees navigate treacherous, dark, and slippery trails to reach the event, raising safety risks. Organized via social media and word of mouth, the party has sparked community complaints for years, highlighting frustrations with its dangers and disruptions.
According to the University of Utah’s website, Couto was pursuing a double major in Environmental & Sustainability Studies and Political Science.
She was drawn to Utah for her love of skiing, she explained. She also chose her areas of study driven by her “strong passion for promoting sustainable change through policy and advocacy.”
“One of my biggest aspirations is to exemplify to those of ALL backgrounds that there are things they may not realize are reliant on the well-being and health of our planet and require our efforts to protect,” she explained back in November.
Meanwhile, a GoFundMe has been created to support Couto’s family following the devastating tragedy. As of this writing, the campaign has raised nearly $20,000 of a $25,000 goal.
“May she rest in peace and know that her short life inspired countless people,” the fundraising page reads in part.