Local Top Stories

Waipahu Girl Recovering From Fall

By Ron Mizutani

A four-year-old Waipahu girl remains in a semi-coma. Friends say baby Tala is unresponsive but is desperately trying to recover from her four-story fall that happened just after 6-30 Wednesday night on Pupuole Street.

"All of a sudden we hear this thump," said Hercules Huihui.

"I heard, a big, big thump," added Shari Huihui describing the sound that came from just outside their window.

"When I turned and looked out the window and I said no it's the baby," said Hercules.

"I jumped up and said oh my God call 911," said Shari who rushed outside to tend to four-year-old Tala. She says she was stunned by what she saw next.

"The two-year-old said hi aunty Shari and I looked up and there were two chairs were against the railings right here and the two-year old was up there in the left corner -- on top of the chairs," said Shari. "I said get down -- somebody get her down!"

Tala's father rushed to his daughter's side.

"He told them get rid of the couch throw 'em away now get the chairs out of there now," said Hercules.

Tala was taken to Queen's Medical Center in critical condition. The Huihui's are haunted by the incident.

"It's beyond words it really is. Like it was my child, like it was my child. We see these children grow up, these are babies," said Shari. "This is a four-year-old child, these are our future we got to protect them."

The two chairs now sit against a fence just outside the apartment's garage.

"Take away anything from the balcony, anything from the balcony -- don't leave nothing that children can stand on, climb on -- don't do things like that because this is what happens," said Shari. "They don't know, they have no sense of danger, they have no sense of fear -- they just don't know -- that's why its up to us to teach them."

Families of this tight-knit apartment complex have formed an even closer bond.

"We're all responsible for not voicing our opinions -- when we see things -- we're all responsible, said Shari. "Every time I close my eyes I can see her."

Tala remains in critical condition.

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