"While this was a horrific accident, Kenji is super motivated to get back into the ocean he loves."
Almost two weeks back now, November 1 if you want some rare precision, the Maui surfer Kenji Nonka, a perpetually optimistic sixty one year old, was hit by a tiger shark during his usual morning surf.
By the time Maui police, firefighters and first responders arrived at the scene at Sand Piles, part of Waiehu Beach Park there, Kenji was on the beach, one leg completely severed just below the knee.
Shades of the “tough as nails” Kai Mckenzie etc.
In an eerie coincidence, it was twenty one years, almost to the very day, since Bethany Hamilton lost her arm after being was hit by a Tiger shark. Hamilton had even posted a warning to surfers on the same day as Kenji’s advising increased shark activity in October.
“I call October Sharktober, especially out here in Hawaii as a surfer,” wrote Bethany. “Sharks are just way more active and it’s known that they’re migrating and getting ready to give birth. And Tiger sharks in particular are migrating and getting ready to give birth.”
After a little tidying up of the stump, Kenji Nonka is back home, face wrapped in his usual smiles.
“We are overjoyed to share that Kenji has been discharged from the hospital today and is back home!!! Kenji and Tomoko both want to express their deepest gratitude for all the love, aloha and donations they have received across the island and beyond. While this was a horrific accident, Kenji is still the brightest beacon of light and hope, and is super motivated to begin the rehab and recovery process to get back into the ocean he loves.”
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I would donate but saving my money to offset Frump’s future tariff’s.
Getting ya arm or leg bitten off used to be a way into lucrative sponsorship and movie deals.
Now it seems ya get an initial payday from gofundme too.
Some people have all the luck…
Such a blessing he’ll be able to endorse Jesus infused diapers and shark Banz like Bethany.
Bethany is interesting to me because she could probably give up surfing and would do just as well. She has to understand her audience cares more about her story and her religion than how barreled she gets. But she still grinds hard and surfs really good.
I just think the shark banz thing is funny though. She posted that whoever messages me with the word “shark” will get sent scientific studies on shark bans and some guy that surfs Lake Michigan said he’s still scared of sharks got the reply “ check your dm’s
I messaged Bethany saying you know there’s no sharks in Lake Michigan right?
Anyway yea packing bombs at pipe with one arm is impressive.
I’m down to set up that go fund me if you’ll cut your leg off.
That shark is fucked Japanese Hawaiian food always comes back to haunt you