Nearly a month after he was critically stabbed in an apparently random attack at the Koko Crater Stairs trail, 23-year-old Nicholas Iwamoto yesterday left The Queen's Medical Center with a host of injuries still healing but sense of humor firmly intact.

In his first public comments since the attack, Iwamoto thanked the Honolulu Fire Department "for that exciting ride in the helicopter," as well as emergency medical personnel, physicians and nurses at Queen's, and his family, friends and co-workers.

"It's been a long couple of weeks," he said. "It's involved a lot of physical therapy, like learning how to walk again, learning how to breathe again, learning how to talk again."

Iwamoto and another hiker, Guy Tanaka, were stabbed on the popular East Honolulu trail on Feb. 1. After a massive manhunt in the surrounding hills, police arrested 19-year-old Benjamin Davis of Kalihi, who was found naked in a tree. Davis has been charged with one count of attempted first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder in the second degree.

Iwamoto's release came just a day after 43-year-old Asa Yamashita of 'Ewa was killed in what is believed to be another random stabbing.

Iwamoto, who declined to discuss the Koko Crater attack, was stabbed 18 times and suffered a broken neck, fractured skull, lacerations to his liver and diaphragm, a broken right leg and severed tendons in his right hand.

In a brief meeting with reporters, Iwamoto appeared with his head immobilized in a halo — "... and it's a fashion accessory," he quipped — his right foot set in a walking boot, and his right arm in a cast. He had a large crescent-shaped scar on one cheek and several other visible wounds to his face and neck.

"Having the halo on sort of hurts and breathing is difficult, but it's getting better," he said.

Iwamoto said he expects to take three to four months to fully recover. His injuries have forced him to withdraw from a college class and it's not clear when he will be able to return to his jobs at a restaurant and car detailer.

"Three months is optimistic," he said. "They said I should make a full recovery."

Iwamoto was joined by his parents, Kitty and Sonny, and other friends and relatives.

"We're tremendously blessed by those who have let us know that they're praying for our son and his recovery," Kitty Iwamoto said. "There's no question that God guided very gifted hands in saving his life."

Nicholas Iwamoto is accepting cards and well-wishes at: Nicholas Iwamoto, P.O. Box 8638, Honolulu, HI 96830.