JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARBULLETIN.COM Kellie Aragon, left, held her leap year son, Kendall, who was born yesterday morning at Kapiolani Medical Center. With them was proud papa Lloyd Aragon.

Leap year baby lands on extra day

Kendall Takayoshi Aragon's parents promise they will celebrate his birthday every year although his Feb. 29 birth date will occur only every four years.

Kendall was the first leap year baby born yesterday at Kapiolani Medical Center. By the end of the day, there were four other new babies in the nursery and three more mothers in labor, according to a hospital spokeswoman.

His parents, Lloyd and Kellie Aragon of Aiea, chose the date.

"Our daughter was born on our anniversary date. That's a special day for her, so we decided we should give him a special date, too," said the mother. Obstetrician Gary Kimoto gave the go-ahead for a Caesarean delivery for any day after Feb. 26, said Kellie Aragon.

Kendall was born at 10:30 a.m. He weighed 7 pounds 10.8 ounces and is 20 inches tall. "He looks like a blend of us, lots of hair, his pudgy nose is from me," said his mother.

"He'll be an outdoorsman, hunting on the mountains and diving in the ocean," said his father, who enjoys those pursuits. "On my side of the family, there's only a few to carry on the family name, so I expect there'll be a family gathering to see the new boy."

"In Japanese tradition it's bad luck to celebrate before the actual date, so we'll celebrate the birthday on March 1 and every four years have a big shebang," said Kellie Aragon.

Lloyd Aragon works at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, and Kellie is a hairstylist.

Kendall's big sister, Leyna, will celebrate her fourth birthday March 22. But she has been getting presents already. "We bought her little gifts and said, 'This is from your baby brother,' to keep the jealousy at bay," said Kellie Aragon.