HONOLULU — A teenager in Hawaii is recovering after enduring more than 11 hours clinging to a kayak before being rescued during an overnight search operation carried out by an off-duty lifeguard and the U.S. Coast Guard.

Seventeen-year-old Kahiau Kawai had become separated from his high school paddling team on Wednesday when he capsized about half a mile south of the Sheraton Waikiki Beach Resort. At the time, he was on a 20-foot kayak and unfortunately was not wearing a life jacket, according to the Coast Guard.

In a heartfelt statement, Kawai’s parents expressed their gratitude to the state, city, and federal rescue teams that worked tirelessly throughout the night to locate their son. They extended a “very special mahalo” to the Honolulu lifeguard who, on his own initiative, set out to search for Kahiau.

“During those 11.5 hours in the dark, Kahiau showed incredible strength, resilience, and bravery, and he is thankful to be reunited with his family and friends,” stated Ka’ala and Kelehua Kawai.

Kawai’s teammates from Kamehameha Schools alerted authorities that he was missing during their kayaking practice on Wednesday afternoon. By approximately 4 a.m. on Thursday, a Coast Guard plane spotted the kayak with Kawai clinging to it and deployed a flare to signal his location off Waikiki.

Noland Keaulana, an off-duty lifeguard and member of a prominent Native Hawaiian waterman family, was conducting his own search on a boat when the Coast Guard guided him to the recently deployed flare. “I was bracing for the worst when I saw his head next to the kayak… His family is incredibly fortunate, and this kid is incredibly strong,” Keaulana shared during a news conference on Thursday. He noted that Kawai seemed to be in total shock and did not display much emotion, while he himself was overcome with relief and gratitude.

Upon being rescued, the teenager was treated for injuries and hypothermia before being transported to an emergency room. The Coast Guard reported that he was in serious but stable condition following the ordeal.