‘He inspired us’: kayaking team paddles to victory after teammate survives 12 hour ordeal in the water

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The teenage kayaker who was rescued after going missing off Oahu’s south shore is out of the hospital and wasted no time in supporting his Kamehameha Schools teammates.
The championship high school kayaking race of the season was held Saturday on the Ala Wai Canal with something fueling the paddles the Kamehameha Warriors.
Just three days ago, their teammate, Kahiau Kawai, 17, survived nearly 12 hours in the ocean after losing his paddle during a kayaking practice in strong winds and rough seas off Waikiki.
Kawai said he hugged his kayak and kicked with his legs in an effort to keep from drifting out to sea where he eventually was found by rescuers in the pre-dawn darkness.
Although Kawai wasn’t able to join them on the water, his teammates say he was paddling with them in spirit.
And for the first time this season, took home first and second place.
“I kept thinking, Kahiau was out in the ocean for twelve hours, this one minute of this race is nothing compared to that,” said one teammate.
Kahiau parents said it is all still hard to process.
“We pulled up to this parking lot Wednesday night and didn’t know if our lives were going to change, if we would get to have him back,” said his mom, 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 would come to the hospital and when his teammates — that’s when he was most happy.”
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