Shark victim to 'make best of it'

By Alice Keesing
Advertiser Health Writer

One week after surviving a potentially fatal shark attack, Hokuanu Aki yesterday navigated hospital hallways on crutches and talked about senior year plans for the prom and graduation.

Hokuanu Aki, 17, gets a donation from a TV cameraman after orthopedic surgeon Byron Izuka, left, announces a hospital fund for the boy who lost part of his leg to a shark. Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser

The 17-year-old yesterday demonstrated his positive attitude as he talked with local and national media, saying the ordeal has taught him to expect the unexpected.

"I never thought this would happen to me," he said. "I can't just stop my life because of it. You've just got to keep going, you just make the best of it, yeah? And I'm willing to do that."

In his senior year, Aki doesn't want anything holding him back. Aside from looking forward to going home and back to school, he has his sights set on the prom and May Day, when he will reign as king for the second straight year.

Although he's no longer sure about his college plans, Aki said he one day would like to make an album of Hawaiian reggae music. The teen, who has played his 'ukulele in his hospital bed, said music has helped him relax and focus his thoughts.

His recovery continues to exceed expectations, both physically and mentally, said Queen's Medical Center orthopedic surgeon Dr. Byron Izuka.

"He's amazing," Izuka said. "I can't believe it. He's incredibly strong. He has an incredibly strong network. That all my patients turn out so well, I should be so lucky."

Aki has spent recent days at Queen's resting and being "swarmed" with visitors, according to hospital staff. He appeared on national television yesterday, talking with NBC's Katie Couric about his ordeal. And he is undergoing physical therapy for about an hour twice a day, which has involved learning to walk with crutches — "which he has already shown he can do very well,"

Izuka said — and getting the strength back in his leg.

"He has to relearn how to do things like just lifting his leg; it hurts to do it," he said.

Despite his rapid recovery, Aki has obstacles to come, Izuka said.

He will be discharged from Queen's to Shriners Hospital this week, where doctors will fit him with a temporary artificial leg to use for one or two months until he gets a permanent prosthetic.

Aki said he plans to test the prosthetic to its fullest.

"I want to be walking again," he said. "I want to start running, get back doing my physical activities, playing basketball, just hanging around."

Izuka said Aki will be able to do whatever he sets his mind to.

"If I see him skiing, I'm not going to blink," he said.

One of the challenges facing Aki and his family will be the cost of different prosthetics for activities on land and in the water, Izuka said. The bill for prosthetics alone will reach at least $500,000 in Aki's lifetime.

"His story has touched those not just here in Hawai'i, but I think across America in general, and the question that people ask is how can they help, what can they do," Izuka said.

"I think that's an easy one ... I think you can open your hearts by opening your wallet. This is something that the family, especially Hokuanu, you're never going to hear from because it's not in their nature to ask something like this. So I'm going to do it."

Two funds have been set up: The Hoku Aki Fund at the Kaua'i Community Foundation Credit Union and the Friends of Hokuanu Aki fund at First Hawaiian Bank.

Reach Alice Keesing at akeesing@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8014.