GARY KUBOTA /GKUBOTA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Maui police recognized two boys yesterday for saving Ian Uddifa, 5, center, from rough surf in West Maui. Uddifa's brother Kenny, left, and friend Adrien Cabrera rescued the child.
Maui boys awarded
for brave surf rescue
WAILUKU >> Fifteen-year-old Kenny Uddifa was playing with his friend at Wahikuli Beach Park in West Maui when he heard his mother screaming and looking out at the ocean.
"I started running and saw my brother floating, so I started running more," Kenny recalled.
With aid from his friend Adrien Cabrera, Kenny rescued and helped to revive his 5-year-old brother, Ian, that May 4 afternoon.
Kenny and Adrien, 14, received letters and certificates of appreciation from police Chief Thomas Phillips yesterday during a Maui County Police Commission meeting in Wailuku.
Also at the ceremony was Ian, who has recovered from the near drowning.
Maui police officer Paul Bailey said Ian had been struck by a wave and swept out to sea.
Bailey said Ian was about 100 feet offshore when the boys entered the ocean and police were called at 4:37 p.m.
Adrien, who went out with a body board, said the waves had 6- to 8-foot faces, and luckily, he and Kenny got to Ian in about two minutes because there was a calm period in the surf.
But he said returning to shore was difficult because the waves began crashing on them and turning over the board supporting Ian.
"We had a hard time getting in," Adrien said.
Once on the beach, Kenny blew air into Ian's lungs, said the boys' stepfather, Jon Wenham.
Wenham said he pressed on Ian's chest and Ian began noticeably breathing.
Wenham said he was grateful to fire rescue officials and paramedics for responding quickly and giving his son professional medical attention.
"We're very appreciative of everything," Wenham said.
He said at one point the family was worried about potential brain damage because Ian had not been breathing for so long.
But Wenham said the family's worries were eased once they saw that Ian was doing crossword puzzles at Maui Memorial Medical Center that night.
Ian said, "I'm happy because I'm still alive and I got my brain with me."
Kenny and Adrien, who will be freshmen at Lahainaluna High School this fall, also received letters and certificates of appreciation from the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program.
