STAR-BULLETIN / 2002 Hoku Aki, 17, is shown in a file photo from last week, appeared on the "Today" show this morning.

Shark bite victim
on ‘Today’ show

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Associated Press

The Kauai teen-ager who lost his foot in a shark attack last week told his story to a national television audience this morning.

Hoku Aki appeared on NBC's "Today" show by satellite from the Queen's Medical Center, where he continues to recover from his injuries.

The 17-year-old Aki said he's still in good spirits and is looking forward to getting back to Kauai High School.

"I really want to just get back to doing everything I used to do before as soon as possible," he told "Today" anchor Katie Couric. "It is my senior year and I'm not planning on having anything holding me back."

Aki appeared on the show along with Nancy and David Roberts, two tourists from Colorado who came to his aid after he swam to shore following the attack last Monday.

Aki was attacked while body boarding in murky water off Brennecke's Beach near Poipu on Kauai's south shore.

Doctors said last week that Aki had been up and walking with the use of a walker two days after having surgery to amputate his leg above the knee.

Doctors expect the athletic Kauai High School senior to be walking -- and eventually running -- with a prosthetic leg within a few months.