RAFU STAFF REPORT
Relatives of a Hawaii woman who went missing last month after arriving at Los Angeles International Airport and who police say voluntarily traveled into Mexico has been found safe, according to her family.
Doug Kari, Kobayashi’s attorney, issued the following statement along with a photo of Kobayashi with her aunt, Larie Pidgeon: “At daybreak on Dec. 15, Hannah Kobayashi crossed the border back to the United States. I accompanied Hannah as her attorney across the border and can verify she is safe. Her journey now is focused on her healing, peace, and creativity.
“Hannah is deeply grateful to her family and all those who have supported her with kindness and compassion. Hannah would appreciate respect for herself, her family, and her loved ones during this challenging time.”
In a statement provided to People magazine by Pidgeon, Kobayashi said, “My focus now is on my healing, my peace and my creativity. I am deeply grateful to my family and everyone who has shown me kindness and compassion during this time.”
She added, “I was unaware of everything that was happening in the media while I was away, and I am still processing it all. I kindly ask for respect for myself, my family, and my loved ones as I navigate through this challenging time. Thank you for your understanding.”
Kobayashi’s sister, Sydni Kobayashi, told KHON2 in Honolulu that she had spoken by phone with Hannah, who said she did not wish to return to Maui. Sydni released the following statement Dec. 13: “It has been one month since our family was thrust into the spotlight, and the pain inflicted upon us was laid bare for the entire world to see. From the beginning, my immediate family was unaware of Hannah’s whereabouts. Until yesterday, we were still in the dark about where she was. There was simply speculation.
“When Hannah first went missing, our father and his best friend flew out to L.A. immediately after receiving the news. Shortly thereafter, my aunt and uncle from New York joined … in the search. Meanwhile, my mother and I stayed home in case Hannah returned to Maui or Oahu. We remained in constant contact with my dad and the rest of our family throughout this time …
“Larie, a self-proclaimed social media influencer, immediately began participating in multiple interviews and became the self-appointed point of contact for the media. Despite my mother and I not being in support of this, it still happened. There were many occasions when my mother and I requested that Larie respect our feelings and tone down her posts and interviews. Our priority was finding Hannah, not creating a media circus.
“When a loved one goes missing, you instinctively enter panic mode. Your body switches to fight or flight, and unless you’ve experienced it, you can’t fully comprehend the physical, mental, and emotional toll it takes. You don’t know what is right or wrong …
“Couple that immeasurable pain with the court of public opinion and the relentless scrutiny that followed, and it’s a challenge no one is prepared to face. The past 31 days have been absolute hell for us, and I feel they will continue to be for a while, even as we try to transition back to some semblance of normalcy.
“Each day brought the unbearable uncertainty of whether my sister was alive or dead. Losing my father (Ryan Kobayashi) to suicide during this ordeal was more than my soul and heart could bear. I am human. Despite the differences any family has … my son, family, and I loved him immensely.
“Throughout this experience, we have not once lied. We have been honest and forthcoming from the start. There were times when we received information from the public or from Larie — whom I no longer consider family — that turned out to be inaccurate or half-truths. I did my best to manage the information I received, but with hundreds of messages flooding in every hour, it quickly became overwhelming, prompting us to seek assistance.
“My mother and I have remained completely transparent and have not misled or taken advantage of anyone. While the GoFundMe lists my mother as the beneficiary, we have kept all the receipts to show where the funds have been used: for the search for my sister. When my father suddenly passed away, I added his funeral expenses and arrangements to the campaign …
“At this time, my mother and I have not physically seen Hannah. We do not have actual proof of where she is … We have only spoken to her over the phone, and she was allegedly found safe with Larie, but at this time, she does not wish to return to us.
“As you can imagine, we are all extremely relieved and glad that my sister is alive and seemingly okay, but we also have mixed and overwhelming feelings of exhaustion, devastation, and betrayal. We are kindly asking the public to respect our privacy and offer us grace for a moment as we are still grieving. There is still so much unknown, and so much that still needs to be navigated.
“In due time, the truth will surface, and we will all get the answers we truly deserve. I stand by the choices I’ve made for my family … I would never wish this type of experience upon anyone, especially not back-to-back.
“Thank you, wholeheartedly, to those who have consistently supported and helped us unconditionally, shown no judgment since day one, and stood behind us.”
The Go Fund Me page established by the family to support the search is no longer taking donations, and those who donated can ask for a refund.
The heavily publicized search effort by the family took a tragic turn on Nov. 24, when Ryan Kobayashi, 58, killed himself. He was found near an LAX parking structure from which he may have jumped. He had spoken at a press conference just days before his death.