A Hawaiian immersion school in Kealakekua continues to hold out hope for the safe return of one of its own.
A Hawaiian immersion school in Kealakekua continues to hold out hope for the safe return of one of its own.
Volunteers and those close to Daylenn “Moke” Pua, a Ke Kula o Ehunuikaimalino student, kept up the search on Friday, eight days after the hiker went missing on Oahu.
Pua, 18, vanished on Feb. 27 after traveling to Oahu to visit his grandmother, then leaving to take a solo hike north of Honolulu in an area commonly called Stairway to Heaven. Friday, the youth’s father and two siblings kept up the search, according to Ann Healoha Paulino, principal at Ke Kula o Ehunuikaimalino.
“The purpose is to keep vigil as well as search,” Paulino said.
On Wednesday, a Navy helicopter team searched for Pua with infared technology along a ridgeline near the stairs. Dozens of searchers, along with drones and aircraft, have combed the Stairway to Heaven trail and surrounding valleys.
Pua was seen last getting on a bus in Waianae and later texted photos of himself in the area of the trail. Early search efforts by the Honolulu Fire Department were hampered by rain. Conditions along the Koolau Range where Pua disappeared were foggy and cold this week, but that didn’t deter some volunteers and family members from pressing on. The HPD searched for four days before calling off the effort.
The trail remains a popular hiking destination although has been officially off-limits for years and a recent landslide damaged the stairway.
Pua loved hula and was drawn to the outdoors — the ocean in particular — said his aunt, Uliana Watson. He and his friends would go swimming and explore beach areas. Although he didn’t seem drawn to tackling remote trails in particular, Pua did like to take solo adventures, Watson said.
“He traveled around the island on his own,” she said. “He loved and talked about that. He’d get on a bus and travel for a day.”
“If you look at all of Moke’s (photos), they’re all taken in the environment.”
A senior, Pua is set to graduate in May and plans on attending culinary school. Paulino described the youth as a resourceful, independent thinker who is protective of his family and went to work in 10th grade to contribute to his ohana’s well-being.
Ke Kula o Ehunuikaimalino sent home a letter on the situation with students and made counseling available to two siblings who attend the school, and anyone else who needed it. Students are updated daily on the search effort during morning protocol, Paulino said.
Pua’s siblings are handling the matter as best they can under the circumstances, she said.
“There is an element of sadness with his classmates,” said Paulino, who described the school of 220 students as close-knit.
“Hope has been our focus all week,” she said.
A GoFundMe account has been set up for family expenses. It can be found at gofundme.com/ns2oj4.
A petition established on Change.org calling on Gov. David Ige to resume the search had garnered 2,800 supporters on Friday afternoon.
“There are countless volunteers out there right now risking their own lives to save him,” the petition states.