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Saturday, July 15, 2000
Heart of Gold
Bradley Akamu hasn't let
By Brandon Lee
leukemia stop him from being
a successful shooter
Special to the Star-BulletinShooting pistols is a family affair for the close-knit Akamu clan. As is their battle with son Bradley Akamu's life-threatening illness.
However, while sport shooting has always been a familiar staple within the Akamu household, all were completely unfamiliar with leukemia when Bradley was first diagnosed with it two years ago.
Bradley, the only child of Peter and Marcia Akamu, was just 11 years old and about to enter the sixth grade when he was first diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia.
More commonly known as childhood leukemia, Bradley Akamu immediately began chemotherapy treatment to combat the illness.
At times, the medication that Akamu receives causes him pain in his joints and leaves him not feeling all that great.
This hasn't stopped him, however, from actively participating in the sport that he and his parents enjoy most.
"I just started to have fun with it and now I just love to shoot," Bradley said. "It's nice, too, because everyone in my family knows what each other is talking about. Both my mom and my dad help me to get better."
Akamu has not only become better at shooting. He has become very good.
Participating in only his second competition - last month's Aloha State Games - Akamu won overall gold medals in the junior (20 years and under) division in both the conventional and air pistol competitions.
The only non-adult in the competition, he also won two silver and three bronze marksman class medals for his performance in various stages during the conventional pistol competition.The stage medals were awarded solely by highest point score in the marksman class, which included military personnel.
"It was shocking to see my scores on the board," said Akamu said. "I was really surprised because I wasn't expecting to place, except for my age group."
Though Bradley has only been shooting pistols for little more than one year, he has been around guns all of his life.
His father, who is his primary teacher and coach, has been competing in tournaments for nearly 25 years.
Peter Akamu is one of only three or four master-distinguished level conventional pistol shooters in the state.
His parents met each other at the shooting range. Marcia Akamu initially participated only casually in the sport, but has since become a skilled, tournament-tested shooter.
Bradley and his father usually practice shooting on Sundays, alternating between conventional and air pistols with each week.
Though his mother no longer competes, she often keeps a watchful eye over Bradley at the range, while his father can usually be found in the firing lane just to the right of Bradley's.
"Shooting is a family thing," Peter Akamu said. "Shooting has always kept us together, and for Bradley in particular, it helps him have a positive outlook on life.
"It's given him something to look forward to, it's something he excels in, and it helps him to feel good about himself."
The leukemia has been in remission but Bradley continues to receive chemotherapy-consisting of varying amounts of weekly injections-and will continue to do so until February of next year. Doctors say that there is an 80-90 percent chance for a full recovery.
While shooting may be the sport of choice for Akamu, he is a well-rounded, intelligent young man who is about to enter the eighth grade at Hawaii Baptist Academy.
Akamu is an honor roll student and also plays saxophone in the band. He hates missing school, though sometimes he is forced to due to his illness, and strives to be treated just like everyone else.
"His teachers tell me he is an inspiration to both them and the other students because of his positive attitude and dedication," Marcia Akamu said. "We are very proud parents."
Edward Masaki is a long-time family friend and gunsmith for Bradley. He is also a master-distinguished conventional pistol shooter himself, and commissioner for the conventional pistol phase at the Games.
"Everything has been against him from the time he was born four months premature," Masaki said. "But this kid is a fighter and he has fought all the way. He is always smiling, you'll never find a person with a better outlook on life."
The Akamus have had a difficult two years, but find strength in each other. Bradley plans to continue practicing and competing, in hopes of eventually winning the marksman class and moving up to sharpshooter.
His parents will be there every shell of the way.
