12 hikers rescued near Kauai’s swollen Hanakapiai Stream
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Kauai County Firefighters rescued 12 stranded hikers from a rain-swollen Hanakapiai Stream this morning. (Courtesy Kauai County)
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Kauai firefighters on the Fire Department helicopter ame across three women attempting to cross the Hanakapiai Stream with what appears to be a rescue tube and an inflatable pool float. Rescuers were able to warn the women not to cross the stream until the water receded, a Kauai County spokeswoman said.
Kauai firefighters rescued 12 hikers today after high water in a stream left the hikers stranded overnight in Hanakapiai, the Kauai Fire Department said.
Firefighters flew in a helicopter to the area after receiving a report about two missing hikers about 7:30 a.m. At the scene, firefighters found 12 hikers unable to cross Hanakapiai Stream because of the high water level. Firefighters flew the hikers out of the valley and no one was hurt.
On Feb. 22, visitor Norka Villacorta, 43, of New York City died when she was swept away on Hanakapiai Stream during a flash flood. Firefighters that day rescued 54 other hikers who had been stranded in Hanakapiai Valley by drenching rain and fast-moving streams.
