Millions have strolled along the Wall at Waikiki. The popular Kapahulu Groin is enjoyed by visitors and residents -- but is also the site of many spinal cord injuries. the latest case happened Sunday afternoon involving a 19-year-old man.
It's a thrill that's been around for decades.

"This go way back in time when we was small kids," said long-time Wall regular Tyrone Hussey.

Despite signs, jumping off the Waikiki Wall is a local tradition. Late Sunday the wall saw its latest tragedy.

"I walked over that side -- me I look over I go -- awww -- I saw bruddah lying in the water like that," said Hussey. "Then the guy said he couldn't move his legs I go oh, oh."

Witnesses say the 19-year-old Hawaii resident jumped headfirst into waste-deep water and suffered a serious spinal cord injury.

"Bummers -- sad," said Hussey.

There have been many sad stories here. In July 2005, 18-year-old Kristopher Leuta broke his neck and drowned after jumping in the same area.

"Who's going to pay attention to the sign. I did it myself when I was a young kid," said the victim's father Fatu Leuta the day after the fatal injury. "The only way they're going to prevent from anything happening either break that wall down or post somebody there to tell them eh you can't do that."

It's something the city has considered.

"When the city had looked at tearing down the groin several years ago -- there was a community outcry against tearing it down," said City Council Member Charles Djou.

"I know think they going shut 'em down -- going get all kind hell if they do you know what I mean," said Hussey.

"I definitely think the city government needs to revisit this issue," responded Djou.

Data supports revisiting the issue. According to the Queen's Medical Center Trauma Registry, the number of spinal cord injuries at Hawaii beaches have varied through the years, peaking in 2005 with 22. Hapuna Beach on the Big Island saw the most cases with 11 in six years, Waikiki was next with eight, most happening at the Wall. Sandy Beach, Magic or White Sands on the Big Island and Waimea Bay round out the top five.

"Maybe perhaps what we need to do in the short-term is look at some more aggressive enforcement and ticket people who try to jump off that groin," said Djou.

The groin was built in the summer of 1951, an extension of a storm drain that ran under Kapahulu Avenue. Some have considered putting up barriers.

"The problem with putting up barriers is -- it very well might destroy the thing you're trying to preserve and we don't want it to look like a fortress or a prison right on Waikiki Beach either," said Djou.

The 19-year-old man is recovering at Queen's Medical Center.