THANKS TO GOFUNDME Hannah and Ryan Kobayashi 1/2 THANKS TO GOFUNDME Hannah and Ryan Kobayashi THANKS TO GOFUNDME Hannah Kobayashi 2/2 THANKS TO GOFUNDME Hannah Kobayashi THANKS TO GOFUNDME Hannah and Ryan Kobayashi THANKS TO GOFUNDME Hannah Kobayashi The family of a missing Hawaiian woman whose father committed suicide on Sunday, is asking for the public’s continued support for the search, while everyone is urged urged to do the same with gratitude for their loved ones.
Sydni Kobayashi, the 32-year-old sister of Hannah Kobayashi, who went missing after flying to Los Angeles on Nov. 8, said she hopes people will continue to post pleas online for Hannah’s safe return and not stop searching for her.
She also asked the audience to show her familial grace as they fight through the “two tragedies at once that we feel.”
accompanied by Sydni and other family members, she flew from Hawaii to Los Angeles to look for Hannah, who sent several “strange” text messages on November 11 – her last contact with them. His body was found in a parking lot on Sunday, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner. The cause of his death, which was ruled a suicide, was “multiple blunt force traumatic injuries.”
Sydni Kobayashi said she can only imagine how he must have felt as he searched for her sister, sometimes scouring the dark, smug corners of Los Angeles.
“He took his life…. Just because it was too much for him. He had little to no sleep. He was so determined to find her,” said Kobayashi, noting that her family has been overwhelmed by the outpouring of public support. “He cared so much about finding her and taking care of everyone else that he forgot to take care of himself. He didn’t talk about what he felt internally.
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‘I really think he just broke down. I really want the public to know that we need them now more than ever. Our family is in mourning. We didn’t even have time to process it all. We are doing our best to cope with the loss of my father and continue to search for Hannah.”
Hannah Kobayashi, 30, a graduate of Kaiser High School, born and raised on Oahu, lives on Maui and has no history of mental health issues, according to her family.
“She’s probably one of the most grounded and kindest people I’ve ever met. She would never do this to our family and do this to us. This whole thing is baffling,” said Sydni Kobayashi, adding that there is no indication her sister wanted to hurt herself.
“There’s a possibility she was trafficked or met the wrong person in LA. There are a lot of different things that were going through our minds.”
Kobayashi said that after their father’s death, police advised the family to return to Hawaii while the investigation continues.
The Kobayashi family is cooperating with the FBI and the Maui and Los Angeles police departments after filing a missing person report, she said.
“The LAPD is the lead agency in the missing persons investigation, and while we have provided assistance at their request, it would not be appropriate to comment on their ongoing case,” said FBI Field Office spokesperson Laura Eimiller in Los Angeles.
“The FBI’s assistance may vary depending on the specific request … but suffice to say, as a federal law enforcement agency with international reach and specialized capabilities, we can provide assistance to our local counterparts in a variety of ways depending on their needs. We will continue to provide assistance as the LAPD makes additional requests.”
LAPD has an open missing persons report in connection with the disappearance of Hannah Kobaya shi.
“The investigation is ongoing,” LAPD Officer Drake Madison said.
Hannah Kobayashi is Okinawan and Caucasian, 6 feet tall and 300 pounds, with hazel eyes and dark brown hair.
The site, founded on November 14, had more than 24,000 followers as of Wednesday afternoon.
A fundraiser to support the family’s search efforts while helping defray the costs of Ryan Kobayashi’s funeral, led by Sydni and her mother, Brandi Yee, had raised more than $41,000 as of Wednesday evening.
Hannah Kobayashi flew from Maui to Los Angeles on November 8 and was scheduled to catch a connecting flight to New York City to spend time with family. She landed at LAX but missed her next flight and had to visit The Grove mall instead, where she attended a Nike event on November 10.
Kobayashi reportedly returned to LAX the next day but did not board a flight.
Later that day, she sent what her family called “strange” text messages about the theft of her ID and expressed concern that someone she thought she loved was trying to take her money, her sister told the Los Angeles Times .
Sydni Kobayashi said she has a message for anyone struggling with depression or suicidal thoughts: “It’s okay to get help.”
“Really, really hold the ones you love, hold them tight,” she said. “No one prepares you for these types of situations. When she reads this, I really hope she knows that we are there for her and that we want her home safe. We love her, we support her, we just want to know she’s doing well.”
Kobayashi also appealed to anyone who knows where her sister is to “keep her safe.” Please don’t hurt her. We just really want her to come back home. We won’t stop until we find her.’
