LOS ANGELES — Hannah Kobayashi, a woman from Hawaii who went missing in Los Angeles, has been located safe, according to police reports released on Wednesday.
Kobayashi disappeared last month after she missed her connecting flight. While she initially intended to spend time sightseeing in Los Angeles, her family grew increasingly worried when they received unsettling text messages from her, coupled with their inability to contact her afterward. This prompted them to file a missing persons report.
Details surrounding her sudden disappearance and the circumstances of her discovery are still unclear, but earlier reports indicated that she had voluntarily left to travel to Mexico.
The Los Angeles Police Department expressed relief upon confirming her safety, indicating that with this new information, the case will now be treated as a private matter. “We are happy to learn that Hannah has been found safe,” the police stated.
The initial announcement of Kobayashi’s safe return came from her family through their attorney. In a heartfelt statement, Brandi Yee and Sydni Kobayashi expressed overwhelming relief and gratitude, saying, “This past month has been an unimaginable ordeal for our family, and we kindly ask for privacy as we take the time to heal and process everything we have been through. We want to express our heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported us during this difficult time. Your kindness and concern have meant the world to us.”
Kobayashi, an aspiring photographer from Maui, was on her way to New York City for a job opportunity and to reconnect with family when she encountered difficulties at Los Angeles International Airport. After indicating that she would be staying at the airport for the night, her communications changed drastically, leading to concern from her relatives.
Her family reported her missing on November 11 after they received “strange and cryptic, just alarming” text messages from her, according to her aunt, Larie Pidgeon. Once the family began to express their worries, Kobayashi’s phone went silent.
While searching for her, family, friends, and community volunteers participated actively in the search efforts. Her father, Ryan Kobayashi, even traveled from Hawaii to assist in the efforts. Tragically, he was found deceased in a nearby parking lot on November 24, with family later confirming that he died by suicide, describing it as an “unimaginable tragedy.”
Authorities later determined that Hannah Kobayashi crossed into Mexico at the San Ysidro border on November 12, just one day after her family filed the missing persons report, as confirmed by reviewing surveillance footage from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Previous statements from LA police noted that Kobayashi sought to escape the pressures of modern communication, emphasizing her decision to disappear voluntarily.
