HONOLULU (KHON2) — The Honolulu lifeguard who found a boy lost at sea in October was recognized for his bravery at The Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational opening ceremony.
Noland Keaulana searched for hours until he found a 17-year-old Kamehameha student-athlete who went missing during a team practice.
According to Nainoa Thompson, CEO of the Polynesian Voyaging Society, Noland, who was off-duty at the time, called that night to ask if he could borrow a boat to go searching for the boy.
“He told me there should be no boy out there in the ocean overnight by themselves. I got to go,” Thompson added.
After getting the go-ahead, Noland spent the night out at sea and checked in with Nainoa to figure out the current outside Diamond Head.
The teen was spotted by the United States Coast Guard around 4 a.m. the next day and alerted Nolan.
He spotted the teen clinging to his kayak and brought him onto his boat to head back to the Ala Wai Boat Harbor.
“At 4 a.m. he calls me and goes ‘I got him. I got him.’ crying on the phone. That’s the choices Nolan makes. It’s sacrificing for others, completely appropriate and parallel with the Aikau family and The Eddie,” said Thompson.
During Friday’s opening ceremony for The Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational, Noland was given the Kahiau award. Kahiau is also the name of the boy he saved.
Check out more news from around Hawaii
“Noland chooses to save lives. Every day with nothing in return.”