District Woman Drowns in Kauai Waters

Woman 1 of 3 tourists to drown

PRINCEVILLE, Hawaii -- Three Hawaii tourists are dead from drowning in waters off the island of Kauai.

Heather Westphal, 33, of Washington, D.C., and her sister-in-law, Tonya Cataldo, 38, of Parker, Colo., were knocked off a ledge Sunday by a large wave and swept out to sea near Queen's Bath in Princeville, police said.

Westphal's husband, Jason, attempted to rescue his wife and Cataldo, but the strong current forced him to return to shore. They were later brought to shore by firefighters and lifeguards.

Heather Westphal lived in northwest Washington with her husband, and worked at the International Association of Fire Chiefs in Fairfax for almost two years in the marketing department. Co-workers said she loved beaches and adventure travel.

"She lived life to the fullest. She cared about people," said Mark Light, her boss.

"She was a true professional," he said. "She was young -- 33 years old -- yet she would work with chiefs 20 years her senior and many times could easily have been her father or grandfather, even, and they all respected her."

Separately, a 74-year-old Japanese man, Hiroaki Kinjo, drowned while snorkeling at Kauai Sands beach in Kapaa.

He was found unresponsive in the water by a body surfer. Bystanders attempted to resuscitate him until medics arrived. He was pronounced dead at Wilcox Hospital.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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