Waipio / Waimanu ... The Big Island of Hawaii
A bad choice made on Kaua'i
Hiker swept away by Kauai stream identified
Posted: Feb 23, 2013 8:03 PM HST
Updated: Feb 23, 2013 8:03 PM HST
LIHUE, KAUAI (HawaiiNewsNow) -
The woman who drowned after being swept away in rough waters in Hanakp'ai Stream on Thursday afternoon has been identified as 43-year-old Norka Villacorta of New York City.
The victim's body was recovered further downstream on Friday morning by Kaua'i Fire Department rescue personnel.
"Our deepest sympathies go out to Ms. Villacorta's family on their tragic loss," stated Mayor Bernard Carvalho, Jr.
Fifty-five hikers were stranded overnight on Thursday when the stream swelled, making crossing unsafe. Two fire rescue personnel remained with the stranded hikers overnight and escorted them out either by air or on foot early Friday morning.
Villacorta is Kaua'i's seventh drowning victim of 2013.
Related story:
Hiker swept away by swollen Kauai stream
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This is the second woman lost in the Hanakapi'ai River that decided to attempt to cross the river when it was visually running fast, due to the torrential rains within the steep valley and encasing the upper elevation in misty clouds.