Hawaii’s First Baby of 2026 Arrives at Honolulu Hospital
The first baby born in Hawaiʻi in 2026, a boy named Jahryzen, arrived at Kaiser Permanente Moanalua Medical Center in Honolulu at 3:59 a.m. on Jan. 1, weighing 7 pounds, 6 ounces. Mother Chelsea Kam and her partner Shayla Sausa left the hospital in good health with their newborn, a milestone that highlights the round-the-clock care provided by state maternity teams during holiday periods.
Hawaii welcomed its first newborn of 2026 in the early hours of New Year’s Day when baby Jahryzen was delivered at Kaiser Permanente Moanalua Medical Center in Honolulu. Born at 3:59 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 1, the infant weighed 7 pounds, 6 ounces and was greeted by family members, including grandmother Christina Folster.
Hospital officials said Chelsea Kam arrived in active labor late on New Year’s Eve and later expressed appreciation for the care she received. Both mother and baby were reported to be healthy and doing well following the delivery. Jahryzen joins a sibling, a 12-year-old brother, in the family.
While the birth took place on Oahu, the event carries significance across the islands, including Big Island County. The first baby of the year often serves as a moment of shared celebration for Hawai‘i residents and a reminder of the hospitals and staff who maintain maternity services through holidays and weekends. For families planning deliveries, the Jan. 1 birth underscores the importance of continuous access to prenatal and labor care and the coordination required among clinicians and support teams to manage births that occur at any hour.
The arrival of the state’s first baby also highlights broader community ties. Extended family members like grandparents often travel between islands to support new parents, and hospitals must be prepared for interisland movement and visitation while maintaining patient safety. New Year births can strain staffing and resources in unpredictable ways, making the smooth delivery and healthy outcome in this case a welcome example of operational readiness in Hawaii’s healthcare system.
As communities across Hawai‘i mark the start of 2026, parents and local health providers may take encouragement from Jahryzen’s healthy entrance into the world. The delivery serves as both a personal joy for the Kam-Sausa family and a public reminder of the essential services that sustain families statewide, especially during holiday periods.
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