Seventeen-year-old kayaker Kahiau Kawai is recovering in the hospital after being lost at sea near Oahu's south shore for nearly 12 hours. The Kamehameha Schools student started a routine paddle from Ala Wai Boat Harbor to Diamond Head with his team, but rough seas and strong winds separated him, prompting a large multi-agency search involving the Honolulu Fire Department, EMS, State Airports Division, and U.S. Coast Guard.
Kahui's mother, Kelehua Kawai, told Hawaii News Now that her son is undergoing medical assessments and is recovering from his time in the ocean. She shared his sentiment: "I'm ok. All the feels!" Meanwhile, the search effort extended up to three miles offshore from Diamond Head to Nanakuli.
Off-duty lifeguard Noland Keaulana spotted the young paddler half a mile off Kaimana Beach, leading to his rescue. The teen received immediate medical attention for hypothermia, dehydration, and severe cramping after being in the ocean for so long, according to KTVI.
Keaulana expressed his relief at finding Kawai, sharing with KTVI, "I was expecting the worst and then when I seen his head up next to the kayak I was like, 'Wow, this family's lucky and this kid's strong,'" saying further, "The whole night was an emotional night, especially after letting every minute go by." U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Commander Nic Iannarone shared the power of hope as he delivered the news of the teen's safety to his mother, "Having that will to live thinking of his mom, how worried she must be, it was such a pleasure to be able to call his mom as she's crying on the phone and say, 'Hey, we found him and he's ok."
