Kapi‘olani patients
and brothers, Kapono
and Duke Pavao of
Lihue, were named
the sixth annual
National Ace Cares
for Kids All-Stars.
ALL-STAR
BROTHERS
R
aising three active sons is a
joy, and sometimes a scary
challenge, for Kaipo and
Sara Pavao.
“They are all quite different,” Kaipo said.
“Kapono is strong-willed and rambunc-
tious. The middle one, Keoni, he’s much
more cautious and conservative. As for
Duke, he watches and he goes for it.”
They certainly are full of energy,
especially when they start talking
about their favorite things. “I dirt bike
ride, I play baseball and I like to play
outside on my bike with my friends,”
Kapono said with a big smile. “And I
like popping wheelies on my bike,”
Duke added.
Typical boys. But for Kapono and
Duke, being typical is an achievement.
The boys were born with a rare
blood disorder.
The first signs appeared when the
Pavao’s first child, Kapono, was circum-
cised. They noticed unusual bleeding.
It stopped. But as he grew, there were
more troubling signs.
“Kapono was about 9 months old, he
was in his walker and got a small bruise
on his rib cage. The next morning it was
huge, all the way up his ribs,” Sara said.
“Then a couple weeks later, he had a big
swollen cheek and we took him to the
doctor again. He had a bruise on the
muscle inside his cheek.”