‘Emotional night’: After hours-long search, missing teen kayaker brought back to safety

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A teen kayaker who was lost at sea off Oahu’s south shore for nearly 12 hours was returned safely to his family Thursday morning, thanks to the efforts of multiple agencies and an off-duty lifeguard.
Officials at a press conference Thursday said around 4:20 a.m., a U.S. Coast Guard C-130 Hercules aircraft crew spotted 17-year-old Kahiau Kawai clinging to his kayak about half a mile off Kaimana Beach, fronting the Waikiki Natatorium.
They marked his location with flares and directed off-duty lifeguard and waterman Noland Keaulana to his location via a maritime radio transmission. Keaulana had been searching for the teenager since around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday by boat and happened to be nearby.
“While it is rare to find people after 11 and a half to 12 hours, it’s obviously not impossible,” said Lt. Cmdr. Nic Iannarone, the mission’s search and rescue coordinator for the U.S. Coast Guard. “If you’re going out, pay attention to the weather. Pay attention to to what’s going on, the condition of the ocean.”
Officials said Kahiau was found treading water and clinging to his Surf Ski high performance kayak, which HFD later retrieved. The teen had lost his paddle and was using his kayak as a kickboard to stay close to shore despite the strong current and stay in sight of search crews.
Keaulana, who’s been a City and County of Honolulu lifeguard for more than 15 years and also part of the Polynesian Voyaging Society (PVS), said his wife had texted him on Wednesday night that the missing kayaker was one of their friend’s kids. He then sprang into action and got approval from PVS to take a boat out to start searching.
“Went out and I did about a 100-mile search, starting from Sand Island, I went up towards Wailupe and went 10 miles out and I just did a zigzag course all the way back to Nanakuli Beach Park, then headed back up one-mile range coming all the way up the coast, and then I see the C-130 flying over me,” Keaulana recounted.
He said the Coast Guard made contact with him and dropped a flare to locate the boy.
“I went to the flare and they gave me more direction and we were able to find the boy and when I approached him, I saw the kayak, I saw his head above water. And I was so stoked to see that he was alive,” Keaulana said.
Keaulana brought the teen onto the boat, gave him some blankets and towels to keep him warm, and brought him to the Ala Wai Boat Harbor, where Honolulu Emergency Medical Services took over treatment.
EMS said paramedics administered advanced life support to the teen and transported him to the hospital in serious condition.
“They continued to keep him warm as he was experiencing hypothermia, extreme dehydration, a lot of severe cramping,” said Honolulu Emergency Services Department spokesperson Shayne Enright. “But he was awake, alert, and he was talking.”
In a statement, the teen’s family thanked all of those who were involved in the search and rescue efforts, including Keaulana.
“A very special mahalo to good samaritans, friends and family, and especially lifeguard and waterman Noland Keaulana who went out on his own to search for Kahiau all night, never giving up, using his instincts and knowledge of the ocean,” the family said, in a statement.
His family said the boy was “strong, resilient and brave” and could see the rescue teams looking for him.
In response, Keaulana said he wouldn’t have been able to sleep if he didn’t go out there to search for the boy.
“I’m just thankful the kid’s alive,” Keaulana said. “The whole night was an emotional night. Especially after letting every minute go by. Then and then kind of like, I was expecting the worst. And then when I seen his head up next to the kayak … this kid’s strong. I’m glad we got to bring him back.”
Officials said Kawai was paddling with his kayaking team from Kamehameha Schools from Ala Wai Boat Harbor to Diamond Head around 4 p.m. Wednesday when they encountered strong winds and rough seas. They turned back but realized Kawai was missing and called 911 at around 6:30 p.m.
A massive search effort began with crews from HFD, EMS, State Airports Division and U.S. Coast Guard covering an area of up to three miles off shore from Diamond Head to Nanakuli.
Several aircraft and rescue boats were involved in the search, with Magic Island used as a landing and refueling zone for the helicopters.
Officials called it a miracle and a case of being at the right place at the right time.
”There’s the whole mental aspect of having that will to live. Thinking of his mom how how worried she must be, and it was such a pleasure to be able to call his mom and she’s crying on the phone, say, We found him and he’s okay,” Iannarone said.
“A lot of different aspects go into survivability not just physical endurance, but mental stamina, spiritual strength, the conditions at the time,” he added.
“You could see the caring and the sincerity and the effort and the professionalism all kind of come together. Look, I’ve been around long enough to know you don’t typically get this outcome, and I just came over here today to say heartfelt thanks and appreciation to everybody,” said Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi.
Kamehameha Schools confirmed the teen is a student-athlete. In a statement, the school said:
“Late yesterday afternoon, one of our kayaking student athletes was reported missing by teammates during practice. Our coaches, administrators and staff immediately contacted the Honolulu Fire Department, and a coordinated search effort was launched.
At approximately 5:30 a.m. today, the Honolulu Fire Department confirmed that this student was found. The student is now with his ʻohana.
Throughout last evening and into the early hours of this morning, we have been in constant contact with the student’s family and the officials involved in the search operation.
We are grateful for the heroic efforts of the first responders and everyone who assisted with the search, and for the many prayers that have been sent for the safety of our haumāna. We are profoundly thankful that he is well and now reunited with his ʻohana.”
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