Hawai’i rings in 2026 with birth of first New Year’s baby

Hawai’i welcomed its first baby of 2026 early New Year’s Day with the birth of a boy at Kaiser Permanente Moanalua Medical Center in Honolulu, hospital officials said.

Baby Jahryzen was born at 3:59 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 1, weighing 7 pounds, 6 ounces. 

He is the son of Chelsea Kam and Shayla Sausa and was welcomed by family members, including his grandmother, Christina Folster. 

Jahryzen also has a 12-year-old brother.

Hospital officials said Kam arrived at the medical center late on New Year’s Eve in active labor and later expressed appreciation for the care she received. Both mother and baby were reported to be healthy and doing well following the delivery.