LIHUE — Kauai police have identified the woman who died while attempting to cross Hanakoa Stream on the Kalalau Trail Friday as 19-year-old Zoe Walker. An autopsy conducted Monday determined the Haena resident, who recently relocated to the island from
LIHUE — Kauai police have identified the woman who died while attempting to cross Hanakoa Stream on the Kalalau Trail Friday as 19-year-old Zoe Walker.
An autopsy conducted Monday determined the Haena resident, who recently relocated to the island from South Lake Tahoe, died as a result of drowning.
South Tahoe Now reported Monday that Walker grew up in South Lake Tahoe and that she and her sister Amber had recently moved to Kauai to stay with an aunt.
“Her friends and family have been leaving words on social media about what a wonderful, caring and free spirit she was,” the online publication reported.
Rescuers recovered Walker’s body from the rocky base of the Hanakoa Stream early Saturday, a day after she went missing.
Officials said Walker and a 24-year-old male friend had been camping in the Kalalau Valley earlier in the week and were hiking out when the incident occurred. Both were swept downstream while attempting to cross, but the man, who has not been identified, was able to make it to shore with minor injuries.
After unsuccessfully trying to locate the woman, the man hiked the remaining six miles of the trail — which was closed at the time due to inclement weather resulting from Hurricane Iselle — to seek help.
Police dispatch was notified of the missing female at roughly 6 p.m. and Rescue 3 aboard county helicopter Air 1 was on scene by 6:30 p.m. They conducted an aerial search for roughly an hour before nightfall forced them to suspend the search.
Search efforts resumed at daylight with assistance from the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, and the female’s body was located near the Hanakoa shoreline around 11:30 a.m. and airlifted out of the area, officials said.
On Aug. 6, the DLNR’s Division of State Parks closed Na Pali Coast State Wilderness Park and the 11-mile Kalalau Trail to entering hikers in light of the approaching tropical weather. A helicopter was sent in that same day to warn campers at Kalalau Beach to evacuate or shelter in place.
It marks the fourth drowning of 2014, according to county officials.
Family and friends of the victim could not be reached for comment Monday, but several posted comments on the South Tahoe Now website.
Nolan Hendersen, who identified himself as Walker’s uncle, wrote, “This is such a tragedy. We are devastated.”
“I’m beside myself with sadness,” wrote Emily Colleen Krueger of Texas. “I really can’t comprehend that she isn’t here anymore. Zoe was an amazing girl and I have nothing but good memories of her throughout middle school and high school. Can’t believe she’s gone.”
