Watersports community urges safety training after teen kayaker rescued

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The rescue of Kahiau Kawai Thursday morning underscores the importance of marine safety in Hawaii.

Local members of the water sports community who spoke to Hawaii News Now say they were relieved to hear the 17-year-old kayaker was rescued, but it’s still a shocking reminder of the dangers of the open ocean.

Shelley Oates-Wilding is a two-time Olympian for Team Australia and co-founder of Ikaika Hawaii.

A non-profit water sports club that uses the Ala Wai and the surrounding sea daily. She praises the quick response in rescuing Kahiau Kawai.

“Yes, the response to there being a happy ending was incredible and that’s the one thing about our community: We care about each other,” Oates-Wilding said. “So if we can supplement the training up front, that’s amazing.”

Oates-Wilding says this will hopefully bring more attention to preparing people in the water – something she teaches her club members when they join.

“If every child knew, let’s see, it’s a warning, it’s windy, the closest place is Australia,” Oates-Wilding said. “Awareness of yourself and the environment, so the wind that’s obviously surrounding the environment, but also what are your abilities, you know, awareness of where you are when they’re far enough away from you that you don’t If I can’t talk to them, then it’s too far.”

She also adds that this should not serve as a deterrent to stay away from the sea.

“I think it’s important that we know this is a reminder, but it’s a reminder of the good things we can do more of,” Oates-Wilding said. “It is not a reminder not to use the sea. The worst thing that could happen to us would be to be stuck on an island and not take advantage of this great opportunity we have.”

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