Because Kaula’s birthday won’t appear on the calendar next year or the following two years, her parents are left with a tough call: when to celebrate. While the couple has not made up their mind, Best knows one thing for
BY CAROLYN LUCAS-ZENK
WEST HAWAII TODAY
clucas-zenk@westhawaiitoday.com
Newborn Katelyn Leilani Meeks will be walking and talking by her first birthday.
She’ll have her driver’s license and borrowing her parents’ cars by her fourth birthday. The high school graduate will likely be going to college or in the workforce by her fifth birthday.
She’s one of thousands of individuals born on Leap Day — the extra day added at the end of February once every four years.
Reliable figures are unavailable on exactly how many people are born on Feb. 29. The Leap Year Honor Society, a free birthday club, reports almost 10,000 members from around the world.
Weighing 7 pounds, 15 ounces, Katelyn was born at 4:04 a.m. Wednesday at North Hawaii Community Hospital to proud Waimea parents Stacey and Walter Meeks, ages 34 and 32, respectively.
“This is my third child and each of my girls have been born in a different state,” Walter said.
The couple had no reservations about having a Leap Day baby. In fact, they think it’s “pretty neat.”
Her siblings — Keira and Cassandra — are “just thrilled” about the new addition to the family. Five-year-old Keira is particularly enamored, remarking how much she loves her newest sister’s little ears, Walter said.
The Meeks will celebrate Katelyn’s off-birthdays on March 1 because she was supposed to be born two days later. March is also a celebration month, filled with several family members’ birthdays, including Walter’s on March 6.
Katelyn wasn’t the only Leap Day baby at North Hawaii Community Hospital. By noon Wednesday, three babies had been born and four others were on their way as their mothers were in “active labor,” hospital personnel said.
Honokaa residents Brandon and Nicole Lee welcomed their new bundle of joy shortly after 8 a.m. Wednesday at the Waimea hospital. The baby boy, who had not yet been named as of press time, is the couple’s third child and first son.
Oldest sister, 3-year-old Veda, was “very excited” to meet and play with her new brother while middle sister, 18-month-old Ava, was “a little shocked,” said 31-year-old Brandon.
Weighing a healthy 6 pounds, 12 ounces and measuring 21 inches long, baby Lee is “a super duper cute kid that looks like me,” Brandon said.
He was always supposed to join the class of people who see their birthdays as often as elections and Olympics. His due date was Feb. 29. He also shares his quadrennial birthday with his late grandfather, Arthur, who was a charismatic entrepreneur in Hilo. That makes the occasion so much more special, Brandon said.
Arthur celebrated his off-birthdays on Feb. 28, a tradition Brandon and Nicole plan to carry on with their son.
They view the unusual birthday as “lucky,” adding “it must be nice to be forever young.” Brandon’s wish for his son is the same as his father’s wish for him: “The only thing I want for him is to be better than me.”
Puna resident Kaimikamalani Best, 21, said she wanted nothing to do with the day that some people think is bad luck, odd or cool. She worried about how her daughter, Kaula, would feel about waiting every four years to enjoy an actual calendar birthday.
Best and her 22-year-old boyfriend, Brandon, thought they were in the clear when Kaula’s due date was Feb. 26. But their first born had a mind of her own. Weighing 6 pounds, 1 ounce and measuring 18 inches long, Kaula made her appearance at 12:17 a.m. Wednesday at Hilo Medical Center.
“It’s so crazy that this beautiful girl with little fingers and tiny toes, and head full of hair was in my stomach. It’s so surreal,” Best said. “She is so much more than I ever expected, and we love her so much already.”
Because Kaula’s birthday won’t appear on the calendar next year or the following two years, her parents are left with a tough call: when to celebrate. While the couple has not made up their mind, Best knows one thing for sure: “It’s going to be a big party and really special.”
