code: private int firstVowel(String word, int last) {
          int i = 0;
          if ((i < last) && (!(vowel(word.charAt(i), 'a')))) {
              i++;
          }
          if (i != 0) {
              while ((i < last) && (!(vowel(word.charAt(i), word.charAt(i - 1))))) {
                  i++;
              }
          }
          if (i < last) {
              return i;
          }
          return last;
      }
docs: Checks lowercase word for position of the first vowel