Yesterday's accident occurred at 1 p.m. as the boy's nanny, Brandi Shanks, was making lunch in the kitchen of the two-story condo in the Ala Wai Plaza at 500 University Ave. Police said the boy either climbed over the railing or squeezed through a small opening at the base of the balcony wall. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The boy's mother, Vida Berger, was on the Mainland for work. The child's father does not live with the family. The apartment owner, who asked not to be identified, said he had leased the condo to Berger. He said the boy was her son, Exodus Berger.

"I just seen him (the boy) on Saturday," said John Lopis, a security guard who has worked at the building for more than a decade. Lopis said no other such accident had happened at the complex during his tenure.

The family moved into the building on Jan. 1, the apartment owner said.

Neighbors said they didn't know the Bergers well, nor had they seen Exodus for some time.

"I think I've seen him around," said Edmund Yokoyama, who lives next door to the Bergers. He described the accident as "scary."

On the ground floor late yesterday afternoon, people prepared for a toddler's birthday party while other tenants sunned themselves by the pool.

"That's kind of bad and sad that it happened," Lopis said.