Posted on: Friday, October 29, 2004

Regretful flying leaps on Kaua'i

By Lee Cataluna
Advertiser Columnist

Kaua'i kids climb rocks, piers, ledges and landings to jump into the water. They just do, and they have for generations.

But this month, two Kaua'i boys made their familiar, carefree leaps and, somehow, landed wrong. Both are in Honolulu hospitals, their necks broken, their families praying.

Aukai Peter, an athlete with sparkling green eyes, was jumping off the Kapa'a landing into the fresh water on Oct. 12. A family friend told him to knock it off, but he went back for another go at it. The friend found him floating face-down, the dirty water already in his lungs.

Aukai, 21, was in a coma for four days. The impact with the water knocked his top two vertebrae in front of the next two. It's too early to tell what his prognosis will be.

His mom, Kai'ulani Edens, a well-known Kaua'i media personality and marketing consultant, says she's made it through the last few weeks on poi and prayers. "We just want to thank all our Kaua'i friends and family for their support and aloha," she said.

A few blocks away at Queen's, Edens' friend, teacher Ka'e'e Calica, is keeping a vigil over her own son.

On Oct. 10, a day before his 14th birthday, Michael Nizo was jumping into the ocean off Hanalei pier.

"There was nothing different," says Calica. "Except maybe he went headfirst. But the water was deep."

The Waimea High School volleyball player and all-star pitcher was pulled out of the water by his brother and hanai sister. He's had surgery to fuse his fifth and sixth cervical vertebrae. His family just got word yesterday that he's been accepted into Shriners' Hospital in Sacramento, Calif., which specializes in spinal injuries.

"Of course, we want complete rehabilitation, but he's going to be an athlete no matter what," Calica says.

For Michael, there's been good progress lately. He's no longer on a respirator and can talk and eat now. He has strength in his upper body.

"Mikey's been chosen to go through this experience and we just pray that God will stay with us and help him to rehabilitate and he can come home."

Yesterday was a better day for Aukai, too. A kahu chanted for him at the place of his accident. At the same time, his mom chanted beside his hospital bed. For the first time, Aukai regained full consciousness and could communicate with his mom.

Edens is looking for a place to rent on O'ahu. She's trying to prepare for the long road ahead.

But her thoughts keep turning to all those kids jumping into the water on Kaua'i.

"I don't know how many times I did the same thing. I probably taught my son to do it."

Now, she's hoping Kaua'i kids will be more careful.

"Like I would tell my son every day, 'Watch out for trouble because trouble is looking for you.' "

Lee Cataluna's column runs Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Reach her at 535-8172 or lcataluna@honoluluadvertiser.com.