The woman was identified as Norka Villacorta, 43, of New York City.

“We've been extraordinarily busy in the last month,” said Gina Kaulukukui, who is the director for Life Bridges Hawaii, which is an organization that helps the families of drowning victims on Kauai.

She said this is now the seventh drowning on Kauai in less than two months.

“I can only imagine how overwhelming it would be,” said Kaulukukui.

“They should have waited. It was sad, because it could have been prevented,” said Wright. 

By morning, 10 people were choppered out -- the rest walked out on their own accord. 

“We escorted them out along the river trail, 48 of them, with our firefighters lining the trail on both sides, and they actually walked out,” said Blalock.

Police said eight hikers returned to find their cars had been vandalized or broken into.