Kamehameha Schools Conducting ‘Thorough Review’ of Teenage Kayaker’s Disappearance and Ocean Rescue

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A 17-year-old kayaker is now recovering at home after a terrifying ordeal lost at sea and then a miraculous rescue. Meanwhile, Kamehameha Schools says it has “initiated a full review of the incident.”

Only Hawaii News Now was there Saturday for the race day reunion between Kahiau Kawai and his schoolmates on the Ala Wai Canal. They called him a hero for his strength and will to survive nearly 12 hours in the ocean overnight last week.

“I was very proud. I ran over and gave them a hug,” Kawai said of his teammates taking first and second place.

“As teenagers now, I make a point of saying a blessing, a good night, but it will mean so much more now,” Father Ka’ala Kawai said emotionally on Saturday.

“Being able to sit in his room and cry and know that he’s going to come back,” mother Kelehua Kawai told HNN.

The family said they want to focus on Kahiau’s recovery and thank those who saved him.

It all started on Wednesday, during a team trip from the Ala Wai Canal to the ocean off Waikiki. They returned during difficult conditions, but Kahiau was missing after apparently losing his oar.

“To ensure this does not happen again, we have initiated a full review of the incident and will take responsibility for taking all necessary action. We can and will do better,” Kamehameha Schools said in a statement.

The school added that when its kayak student-athletes were reported missing by teammates during practice, “our coaches, administrators and staff immediately contacted the Honolulu Fire Department and a coordinated search effort was launched.”

“It is essentially inexcusable for a child to be lost at sea during a school trip,” said attorney Jim Bickerton, who has investigated ocean-related accidents involving schools and is not involved in this incident.

He says there are questions about safety protocols, equipment and why students were in the ocean at dusk during a Red Flag Alert Day.

“The kayak will explode and that also means visibility will be reduced because the sea is rougher and the kayaks are low in the water, you can’t see beyond those waves,” Bickerton said.

The Honolulu Fire Department says it received a report of a missing surf skier at 6:28 p.m. Wednesday.

At 7:30 p.m., the Coast Guard says it was called about an hour later.

The following day, at 4:03 am, the co-pilot of a C130 Hercules plane saw Kahiau clinging to his kayak in the area where he had become lost.

At 5:10 a.m., the Coast Guard says Kahiau Kawai was pulled from the water by a good Samaritan boater, off-duty lifeguard Noland Keaulana.

Then, at 5:25 a.m., he was back on shore.

“To really make kids safe, you really have to study the protocols because it’s all about the unexpected,” Bickerton said.

The status of three of the five coaches at practice on the day of the incident is not publicly known. Kamehameha says his athletic directors stepped in to provide coaching at Saturday’s ILH race.

The school also said it is focused on Kahiau’s well-being and will continue to offer support to him and his family as he recovers.

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