Surviving on rainwater and fish caught over the side of their six-man life raft, David Summers, 25, and Richard Enslow Jr., 20, drifted southwest about 70 miles in the open ocean before they were rescued yesterday by a fishing boat a half-mile south of Kaula Rock, near Niihau.
"It was just constant rain and big swells," Summers said.
"It was an undescribable experience, really."
Summers said the two "never really gave up hope" during their ordeal, but "just in case," they carved messages to their parents on the raft's plastic paddles. "Sorry to cause so much grief. I hope David and I make it, but if not, give the family my love," Enslow's paddle reads.
The pair had been fishing near Nihoa Island and were expected to return to Kewalo Basin on Dec. 11. Enslow's father reported the two missing Dec. 13 when they failed to show up in his 48-foot boat, the Lady Aud.
The Coast Guard, Navy and Hawaii Air National Guard searched for five days, covering some 205,000 square miles of ocean west and north of Kauai.
But searchers missed the two men, adrift since they were forced to abandon their sinking vessel on Dec. 9 about halfway between Nihoa and Kauai. It isn't known why the boat sank. Summers said "it just started sinking and then water covered the battery, so we couldn't make any calls."
But the device was damaged and failed to emit the signals that would have caught the attention of search parties, Moss said.
"We could've found them easily if it had been working."
Moss said the Coast Guard will question the men later this week, after they've had time to rest.
Capt. Kevin Yamase brought Summers and Enslow aboard his Kauai-based fishing vessel Kekoa shortly after 8 a.m. yesterday and delivered them to Kikiaola Harbor in Kekaha about 2 p.m. The two were then taken to Kauai Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waimea, where Summers was treated for a dislocated shoulder. Both were released last night.
Moss said the men "were both very fatigued," and a hospital spokeswoman said they were in good condition, "considering what they've gone through."