Search crews have spent days combing land, air and water near Oahu’s Hanauma Bay after the pair failed to return from a morning hike.
HONOLULU, Hawaii — A 49-year-old father and his 16-year-old son remain missing after setting out on a hike near Hanauma Bay on Oahu earlier this week, prompting an extensive search involving the U.S. Coast Guard, Honolulu Fire Department and other emergency agencies.
The disappearance has led to a large, coordinated rescue effort focused on the rugged coastline and waters surrounding the Hanauma Bay Rock Bridge Trail. Officials say search teams have faced difficult weather conditions while trying to locate the pair, whose identities have not been publicly released. Their backpack and vehicle were found shortly after they disappeared, but investigators have not announced any evidence explaining what happened.
According to authorities, the father and son left their hotel at about 7 a.m. local time on Tuesday to explore the Hanauma Bay Rock Bridge Trail, a scenic but challenging route on Oahu’s southeastern shoreline. Around 8:45 a.m., another person discovered a backpack containing the father’s belongings near the trail and contacted police. Members of the Honolulu Fire Department also located the family’s vehicle parked near the trailhead entrance. Those discoveries quickly shifted the outing from a missing persons case into a full-scale search and rescue operation. After receiving notification late that morning, Coast Guard watchstanders issued an urgent marine information broadcast and dispatched a 45-foot response boat along with an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter to search the surrounding waters. Additional aircraft, rescue personnel and local agencies soon joined the effort as crews searched both the steep shoreline and nearby ocean areas.
The search resumed the following day with helicopters, rescue boats, divers and unmanned aerial systems covering areas that had not yet been fully examined. Officials have not said whether the pair entered the water, suffered a fall or became stranded in the rugged terrain. Search teams have continued to evaluate both land and ocean environments because the available evidence has not pointed investigators toward a single conclusion. Emergency officials also have not disclosed whether cell phone data or other electronic information has provided any leads. As crews expanded the search, they repeatedly adjusted their operations to account for changing weather and sea conditions that complicated visibility and access along the coastline.
The Hanauma Bay Rock Bridge Trail is known for dramatic ocean views, steep volcanic terrain and exposed cliffs overlooking the Pacific. Although popular with visitors seeking scenic viewpoints, portions of the route can become hazardous because of loose footing, uneven rock formations and sudden changes in weather. Local officials have responded to emergencies in the broader area before, particularly when hikers underestimate the terrain or venture too close to cliff edges. Search operations along this stretch of coastline often require coordination between fire rescue crews, aviation units and maritime responders because of the area’s difficult access from both land and sea. Those challenges become greater during periods of strong winds and rough surf, conditions that have affected the current operation.
Capt. Keopele Gowan of the Honolulu Fire Department said weather has been one of the biggest obstacles facing crews. “Windy, a little bit choppy, especially this time of year,” Gowan said while describing conditions encountered during the operation. He added that rescuers continue working within those limitations while covering as much ground as possible. Local contractor Joe Pomaihealani, who works near the trail, said many visitors underestimate the route. “A lot of people who go through this trail basically don’t know how ruthless this hill is, and the heat and stuff,” he said, adding that some hikers begin the climb without enough water or hiking experience. Authorities have not indicated whether those factors played any role in this case, and the circumstances surrounding the father and son’s disappearance remain under investigation.
As of Thursday, the father and son had not been located, and search efforts remained active. Officials said rescue crews planned to continue searching while evaluating weather conditions and any new information that could help narrow the search area. The investigation remains ongoing.