The power of neighbors

Longboarding accident reveals Good Samaritans in Laie

BY MCKENZIE CONNELL

After suffering a concussion as part of a longboarding accident, Michaela Eisenhut said support and help from the Laie community, fellow students and the university have helped her on the road to recovery.

Eisenhut, a freshman from California majoring in Pacific Island studies, said she was almost home when she crashed her longboard near the temple. “I was going really fast on my longboard and then took a really sharp turn going into the roundabout. I hit the curb, and I just remember flying off,” Eisenhut said. She said the next thing she remembered was “waking up slightly. Everything was super, super hazy, and my head hurt really bad.”

Two Laie community members assisted Eisenhut; Luke Moffat, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and neighbor to Eisenhut, along with a woman whose identity is unknown.

Moffat said the accident was right in front of his house. “It’s funny how it all came together in hindsight. If you’re going to faceplant on your skateboard, then there’s no better place to than in front of a temple.

“She opened her eyes, and she was just so scared. I talk to her now, and she’s a totally different person. ... I have teenage daughters, and my heart went out for her,” he added.

After coming to, Eisenhut said the first thing she asked Moffat was, “Are you a priesthood holder?” Moffat said he was indeed a priesthood holder and gave her a blessing. Eisenhut said the next thing she remembered was “the paramedics coming and then putting a brace around my neck.”

Moffat said although he had never given a blessing in an emergency with nonmembers around, he felt “totally calm.” After the blessing, Eisenhut calmed down, and soon after the ambulance arrived, he said.

As all of this was going on, Eisenhut’s roommate, Jasmine Green, a freshman from Florida majoring in communications, said she was at home, unaware of what had just happened. When she heard what happened, Green said she “dropped everything and ran outside [and was] freaking out.”

Once at the scene, Green said she met the two witnesses who explained what they saw. Eisenhut was taken to Queens Hospital in Honolulu, and Green, along with their housemate Kawena Murray, followed behind her. After arriving at the hospital, they waited six hours for Eisenhut to be released.

Due to COVID-19 safety measures, neither of her roommates were allowed inside the hospital. Friends and fellow classmates came together on social media, posting requests for prayer and blessings for Eisenhut’s quick recovery. Eisenhut, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said she felt the faith of all those who assisted.

“It gave me a really strong testimony of the power of the priesthood and the beauty of our town here in Laie. I had so many people there to help,” she said.

Moffat said he was impressed by her faith and used the experience to teach his young daughters.

“To teach your daughter the importance of priesthood, I give her parents props. Kudos to her folks for teaching her right,” he said.

Eisenhut said she was concerned about her classes and getting assignments in late. However, when she received a message from the BYU–Hawaii Dean of Students Melba Latu while she was in the hospital, Eisenhut said her concerns were alleviated.

Latu was encouraging and told her the school is there for her. Her health and safety was their top priority, explained Eisenhut. “I decided to withdraw from my classes this semester and start fresh next semester,” Eisenhut added. She said she hopes she can share her recovery through social media.

Eisenhut said an anonymous fellow student delivered multiple pizzas boxes to the girls’ apartment during Eisenhut’s recovery. Eisenhut and Green said throughout the entire experience, both girls felt blessed by the support each individual who assisted them gave, from both fellow students and non-student members in the community.

“I was surrounded by people who are strong in the faith, and it is amazing. I have so much support around me,” Eisenhut said. “I am really grateful. BYU–Hawaii is awesome. It is such a great school, and I am so grateful to be a part of it.”•