Local teen saves grandmother during vacation in Hawaii

WASILLA— Linda Kabealo, her son Zaak Wilson and her two grandchildren Genevieve and Gabe Wilson took a family vacation in Oahu, Hawaii back in October. Kabealo said that if it weren’t for her quick-acting family, she probably wouldn’t have made it back.

“I have a remarkable family,” Kabealo said.

On the last day of their vacation, Kabealo swam with her family in the North Shore. When she tried to swim back to shore, she was pummeled by big waves with such force that it left her with multiple fractured ribs on the left side of her body, a splenic laceration and traumatic pneumothorax (an air bubble in her left lung).

“I heard a crunch and felt it in my shoulder and my body and I just couldn’t get a breath,” Kabealo said. “The waves were pounding me then I saw my granddaughter coming in like a stallion, then my son right behind her.”

Genevieve, 14, was the first to notice her grandmother’s peril and prompted her dad to come with her on the rescue. She said that it was while she was swimming out toward the riptide with her dad and brother that she saw her grandma trying back to the shore.

Genevieve saw her grandmother get caught between two big waves and tumble around. Kabealo said that she couldn’t breathe as she was getting tossed around by the waves.

“I was bouncing around like a rubber ball,” Kabealo said.

At first, she thought she was going to be OK, then another huge wave crashed on her and it began to look like trouble.

“I was like, OK Dad, we need to go help her,” Genevieve said.

Genevieve and her father were able to pull Kabealo to the shore.

“I’m really glad I was able to catch it in time,” Genevieve said.

Genevieve completed her Emergency Trauma Technician training program with the Mat-Su College when she was 13 years old. Zaak said the minimum age for ETT training is 14 but his daughter performed so well that they made an exception for her. He credited her ETT training, saying that it likely helped her make more confident decisions.

Zaak said that he grew up in Oahu and his mother taught him how to surf as a kid. He said that he wanted to take his family on a vacation and show his kids where he spent his formative years. He said that prior to the incident, he and his family packed in as many activities they could, including an excursion in the ocean where they all got inside shark tanks.

“It was the first time they’d ever been and I had to bring mom along because she’s awesome,” Zaak said.

Zaak said that his mom showed him how to handle himself in and around the water. He said that she’s tough a Vietnam vet that “doesn’t take any crap.”

“I was fearless as a kid because she was kinda fearless,” Zaak said. “So I just assumed when she got in that wave it was all good but I guess when you hit 65 and older you gotta be more cautious.”

Zaak said that the incident occurred on the last night of their vacation and they were planning to go to a luau after the beach. While they were all on the beach realizing the extent of Kabealo’s injuries, they started insisting that she go to the hospital. Zaak said that she insisted they still go to the luau.

“All she could say is, ‘I want you guys to go to that luau; let’s go to the luau,’ as mom’s passing out and close to death,” Zaak said. “(I said) We’re going to the hospital.”

Kabealo spent her life practicing self-healing. Zaak said that he never saw her taking medication or going to the doctor.

“As I was lying there, I was telling myself that ‘I’m healing. Everything’s healing. It’s rushing to heal me.’ Finally I said, ‘we better go,’” Kabealo said with a laugh.

Zaak said that his mother refused an ambulance, so he drove her to the hospital.

“That was the first time I’ve seen my mom injured,” Zaak said.

Kabealo said that she had to stay in Hawaii for a few weeks until the air bubble in her lung subsided. She was finally able to return to the Valley the day after Thanksgiving.

“She probably would’ve died if we were not there,” Zaak said.

Zaak said that the whole ordeal was a close call and he was glad that they were there for her when she needed them. Kabealo smiled and looked at her family.

“I just knew I was safe,” Kabealo said. “I was in good company.”

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com