Cultural practitioner emerges from drug-induced coma

WAILUKU - Kimokeo Kapahulehua emerged from a drug-induced coma Tuesday in the Maui Memorial Medical Center intensive-care unit after having been put on life support since the weekend, family friends said.

The 60-year-old Hawaiian cultural practitioner apparently had contracted sepsis caused by leptospirosis and suffered kidney failure. But Tuesday "was a good day," paddling crew mate Jamie Woodburn said. "The family was all tearful and celebrating the fact that Kimokeo had opened his eyes and responded to son Cory's verbal request to squeeze his hand."

Woodburn said Tuesday the medical team "hoped to take out the respirator either today or tomorrow, then start backing off on sedation and hopes he continues to show progress. He's still on dialysis."

Kapahulehua was surrounded by family members, including companion Kathryn "Ryn" Hughes, son Cory Kapahulehua, a military special forces member who had flown in from North Carolina, and others from Maui, Oahu and Kauai, Woodburn said. The family requested no visitors at the hospital for purposes of "crowd management."

The ICU staff also is concerned about the potential for introdcuing a new infection, he said. Woodburn said that Kimokeo had displayed "a dramatic improvement from prior days."

He recounted that Kapahulehua had complained of flulike symptoms and tiredness all last week. "He wasn't drinking much because he wasn't able to go to the bathroom."

Kapahulehua entered Maui Memorial at 7 a.m. Friday. On making a diagnosis, hospital staffers acted immediately to treat the infection, under the care of a medical team led by infectious-disease specialist Dr. Scott Hoskinson, Woodburn said.

Kapahulehua is ubiquitous in the community as a veteran Kihei Canoe Club steersman, cultural ambassador at The Fairmont Kea Lani Maui resort, president of 'Ao'ao O Na Loko I'a O Maui fishpond association, and founder, board member and kapena, or captain, of the Hawaiian Outrigger Canoe Voyaging Society.

"There's a huge community of people who are concerned about and supporting him, but this is kind of a solo paddle for him; so it's a tough one," Woodburn said. "I'm sure the family appreciates prayers and good thoughts and aloha."

* Kekoa Enomoto can be reached at kekoa@mauinews.com.