While vacationing in Maui … I heard a low flying helicopter making several passes nearby and couldn’t spot it. I grabbed my camera with a 70-200mm lens and ran for the beach. These helicopter photos were taken during a water rescue training exercise for members of the Maui County Fire Department. Their aircraft is a Hughes 369D which is also known as a MD500.
The helicopter was landing in a nearby field and loading divers into a rescue net, then shuttling them back and forth into the water to the rescue site where they aided the swimmers in distress.
![Hughes 369D MD500 helicopter](https://i0.wp.com/larryshapiroblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Maui_helicopter-3455A.jpg?resize=600%2C394&ssl=1)
![Hughes 369D MD500 helicopter](https://i0.wp.com/larryshapiroblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/120124_Maui-3391A.jpg?resize=600%2C381&ssl=1)
![fire department divers in a rescue net](https://i0.wp.com/larryshapiroblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/120124_Maui-3426A.jpg?resize=600%2C422&ssl=1)
![Hughes 369D with suspended rescue net](https://i0.wp.com/larryshapiroblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/120124_Maui-3400A.jpg?resize=446%2C600&ssl=1)
![Hughes 369D MD500 helicopter](https://i0.wp.com/larryshapiroblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/120124_Maui-3428.jpg?resize=386%2C600&ssl=1)