Kayak team paddles to victory with rescued companion to congratulate them

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The teenage kayaker who was rescued after disappearing off Oahu’s South Shore is out of the hospital and wasting no time in supporting his Kamehameha Schools teammates.

The season’s championship kayak race was held Saturday on the Ala Wai Canal with something powering the Kamehameha Warriors’ oars.

Just three days ago, his teammate, 17-year-old Kahiau Kawai, survived nearly 12 hours in the ocean after losing his paddle during a kayak practice session in high winds and rough seas off Waikiki.

Kawai said he hugged his kayak and kicked with his legs in an effort not to be swept out to sea, where he was found by rescuers in the pre-dawn darkness.

Although Kawai was unable to join them in the water, his companions say he was rowing with them in spirit.

And for the first time this season, he took home first and second place.

“I kept thinking, Kahiau has been in the ocean for twelve hours, this minute of this race is nothing compared to that,” said a teammate.

Kahiau’s parents said it’s still difficult to process everything.

“We pulled into this parking lot on Wednesday night and we didn’t know if our lives were going to change, if we were going to get him back,” said his mother, Kelehua Kawai, who wanted to thank everyone for their help in getting him home.

“I knew he needed to be here,” said Kahiau’s father, Kaala Kawai. “I stayed with him overnight in the hospital. I could see his face when people came to the hospital and when his teammates – that’s when he was happiest.”