san francisco resident jenn kwong saw it first hand. >> yeah, that spot, just once you're in the water it's a death trap. >> reporter: with a crushing rogue wave her fiance and his best friend were swept out to sea. standing on these shelves, kwon and joy chu watched helplessly. >> i knew i couldn't do anything. if they dispatched a helicopter right now, it would be too late. >> reporter: chu spoke to the investigative unit right before we traveled to the island last spring to find out why one of the least inhabtd islands was seeing so much drowning. five months into 2013, 11 people had already drowned. we went with caution to the very place that two bay area men died. the scene looking safe. >> my heart was heavy and i was very sad. i can understand why other drownings would have happened, too. >> reporter: more visitors per capita are drowning here than on any other island. from 2008 to 2012, kaui has had the highest rate of nonresident drownings. maui came in a close second followed by the big island of hawaii. monti downs is an er doctor and the president of the lifeguard associati