By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer
When his 4-year-old friend slipped beneath the water in a pool at a Hawai‘i Loa Ridge home last November, Noah Oleyer didn’t think twice about jumping in to rescue Eola Liwai Manoa.
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| Four-year-old Noah Oleyer, middle, was the center of attention yesterday at the Honolulu Hale. Mayor Jeremy Harris presents him with an award for saving friend Eola Liwai Manoa, left, from drowning.
Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser |
"He dove under him, put Liwai’s legs around his neck and piggy-backed him up to keep his head above the water," said Noah’s father, Ron. "When my son was explaining it all to me, that’s the thing that struck me."
What also struck those who honored Noah yesterday at Honolulu Hale, including the mayor, the police chief and the fire chief, is Noah’s age: he turns 5 on April 4, the youngest person ever honored by firefighters for a rescue.
So grateful are Bernadette and Stanley Manoa of ‘Aiea for the rescue of their son that they are setting up an educational fund for Noah, who lives at West Loch Fairways in ‘Ewa and attends Kama‘aina Kids preschool.
"I cannot thank him enough," Bernadette Manoa said. "What Noah did was unconditional. He didn’t expect anything back."
The two boys were at poolside when Noah saw his friend fall in 5-foot-deep water while reaching for a floating object, said Ronald Oleyer, who taught his son to swim at age 2.
Overwhelmed yesterday by the media attention in the mayor’s office, Noah and Liwai were more comfortable eating a fruit snack later in a nearby conference room.
"I jumped in and he climbed on my back," explained Noah before returning to his snack.
The families of the two boys noted how appropriately they chose names for their sons.
"Eola is life, and the meaning of the name is long live Liwai," Bernadette Manoa said. "And in the Bible, Noah saved lives from the water."
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