Hubbard said he was crossing over rivers by way of hanging branches, to reach rescue crews who were risking their own lives.

To their surprise, he said he let them know he was passing pockets of people everywhere.

One by one, crews plucked hikers from danger and flew them to soppy, semi-safety with dozens of others on Hanakapiai Beach.

He said they spent the night in a tarp shelter.

The next morning, hikers walked out to more mud and vandalized cars at the entrance to Kalalau Trail.

They were safe, tired, and with unforgettable knowledge of what can happen in Hanakapiai Valley.

"We were thinking about the trail and how slippery and muddy it could be, but we didn't really think about how quickly the river could rise," he said.

Norka Villacorta was there with her fiancé Daniel when she was swept out to sea.

Rescue crews found her body Thursday morning.

She worked for Revere Data in New York City as a Business Development Manager.