Kauai: Drowning victim identified

 The woman who drowned after being swept away in rough waters in Hanakāpī‘ai Stream on 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,” 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.