A Hawaiian teenager was recovering Friday after spending more than 11 hours clinging to a kayak. He was rescued after an overnight search at sea by off-duty lifeguards and the U.S. Coast Guard.
Kahiau Kawai, 17, capsized about a half-mile south of the Sheraton Waikiki Beach Resort in Honolulu on Wednesday, becoming separated from his high school paddling team. The man was in a 6-foot kayak and was not wearing a life jacket, the Coast Guard said.
In a statement, Kawhi's parents thanked the state, city and federal rescue teams who worked through the night to search for the boy, and extended a “special thank you” to family, friends and the Honolulu lifeguard who worked alone to search for the boy. I express my heart.”
“Kahiau was strong, resilient and brave as he endured 11 and a half hours in the dark as he could see rescue teams searching for him. He is grateful to be back with his family and friends. ” Kaala and Kerehua Kawai said in a statement.
The boy was reported missing Wednesday afternoon while practicing kayaking by teammates at Kamehameha Schools, according to a statement from the school.
Around 4 a.m. Thursday, a Coast Guard aircrew spotted the kayak the boy was clinging to and deployed a flare to mark his location off the coast of Waikiki.
Off-duty lifeguard Noland Kealana, a Polynesian navigator and member of a family of famous Native Hawaiian sailors, searched through the night in his boat.
The coast guard directed him towards a flare.
“I expected the worst, but when I saw his head next to the kayak…his family is lucky and this kid is strong,” Keelana said in her speech. press conference Thursday. “I think he was in complete shock because he wasn't emotional at all. And I was actually pissed and crying because he was fine.”
The boy was treated for injuries and hypothermia and taken to the emergency room. The man's condition is serious but stable, the Coast Guard said.
