As fireworks lit up the night sky in celebration of the new year, Kailua-Kona couple Neiwana Abraham and Henson Wase welcomed their first child into the world.
Born at Waimea’s North Hawaii Community Hospital just 47 minutes into the new year, Prantison Aloysius Henson Wase earned the title of Hawaii’s first baby born in 2014, said Julia Amerling, manager of Fund Development at NHCH.
Prantison, a healthy baby boy, weighed 5 pounds, 15 ounces and measured 20 inches long at birth, Abraham said.
“I’m proud and I’m thankful,” the new mother said as she cuddled her baby boy near a sunny window Thursday morning.
Abraham hadn’t planned for a New Year’s Eve or Day baby — in fact the little bundle of joy was not due until Jan. 9. But, Tuesday afternoon, Prantison decided it was time.
“I was very surprised,” Abraham said about having the state’s first baby. The proud parents are expected to take Prantison home today.
At Kona Community Hospital, baby boy Damian Lopez waited for the sun to rise on the first day of the new year to make his debut. At 8 o’clock sharp Wednesday morning, Kona couple Sara Cisneros-Zavala and Felix Lopez welcomed the 7-pound, 14-ounce, 20-inch-long healthy infant into their family.
Damian, who was born well after his Dec. 22 due date, is the couple’s first baby, said Cisneros-Zavala, who also expects to go home today.
“He wanted to be the first” born at Kona Community Hospital, she said. “It was exciting because I didn’t expect it to be that time (New Year’s Day). It’s awesome.”
Kona Community Hospital spokeswoman Judy Donovan said the hospital’s obstetrics department delivered five babies on New Year’s Eve and two baby boys on New Year’s Day. The hospital’s first girl of 2014 was born on Thursday.
At Hilo Medical Center, the year’s first baby was born at 6:08 p.m. Jan. 1 to Leah-Rae Kekahuna-Bee and Eric Babas of Hilo, said Elena Cabatu, the center’s spokeswoman. Ezikehael-Cire Uhanepono Babas-Bee, a healthy, happy baby boy, weighed 5 pounds, 13.75 ounces and measured 18.25 inches long.