‘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 said off-duty lifeguard and waterman Noland Keaulana, who had been searching for the teenager since around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday by boat, brought the 17-year-old to safety.
A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter crew spotted the kayaker offshore fronting the Waikiki Natatorium at around 4:20 a.m., marked his location with a flare, and contacted Keaulana.
“The search endured throughout the night, and just after 4 a.m. this morning, our fixed wing C-130 Hercules aircraft located what they believed to be and what ended up to be the individual, clinging to his boat just about half a mile offshore of Diamond Head,” said Lt. Cmdr. Nic Iannarone, of the U.S. Coast Guard.
Keaulana, who’s been a City and County of Honolulu lifeguard for more than 15 years and also part of the Polynesian Voyaging Society, 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 the teen was with a group that had planned to kayak from the Ala Wai Channel to Diamond Head and back around 4 p.m. Wednesday.
“They encountered a little bit of strong wind, so they turned around and headed back,” said Honolulu Fire Department Capt. Dean Baldeviso, who added that the winds were strong enough to flip some of the single-person kayaks over.
“On their way back, they realized that they were missing a kayaker,” he said.
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.”
First responders were called at 6:28 p.m. Crews arrived at 6:35 p.m. and began a search of the shoreline in the area from the Ala Wai Boat Harbor through parts of Waikiki.
The HFD, State of Hawaii Airports Division, and U.S. Coast Guard took part in the overnight search.
The fire department had 13 units with about 39 personnel involved in searching a large area.
“I know our search companies have run out to about three and a half miles offshore,” said Capt. Baldeviso.
Both of the fire department’s helicopters were involved in the search, along with several rescue boats. Magic Island was used as a landing and refueling zone for the helicopters.
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