LIHU‘E — The woman who drowned after being swept away in rough waters in Hanakapi‘ai Stream Thursday afternoon has been identified as Norka Villacorta, 43, of New York City. The victim’s body was recovered further downstream on Friday morning by
LIHU‘E — The woman who drowned after being swept away in rough waters in Hanakapi‘ai Stream Thursday afternoon has been identified as Norka Villacorta, 43, of New York City.
The victim’s body was recovered further downstream on Friday morning by Kaua‘i Fire Department rescue personnel aboard Air 1.
“Our deepest sympathies go out to Ms. Villacorta’s family on their tragic loss,” states Mayor Bernard Carvalho in a county news release.
Fifty-five hikers were stranded overnight 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.
In addition, a couple from Seattle reported Saturday that they were part of an additional 10 hikers stranded overnight Thursday at Hanakoa at the 6-mile mark on the Kalalau Trail.
The couple said they and the other eight hikers struggled getting back across swollen streams in rough weather conditions.
They emerged from the trailhead at Ke‘e Beach early Friday evening and discovered the trail had been closed much earlier in the day after rescue and recovery efforts.
The Garden Island will continue coverage on this story in Monday’s edition.
