Family of missing woman thanks community
The Wiley family wants to extend a heartfelt thank you to the Big Island community for the aloha you have shown our family in searching for Debby.
We haven’t yet found Debby, but we definitely found a community — one that cares, which is very valuable. The support, labor and time you have sacrificially given over these last two months has truly overwhelmed and filled us with love.
Because Debby’s missing person case has officially been marked as inactive we are not organizing any structured search efforts at this point. The detective and local police department need a recent sighting or fresh lead in order to reopen Debby’s case. During this time, we simply ask that, as people are able, they keep an eye on their properties, keep an ear out for anything suspicious, and hope — along with our family — that someone spots Debby and calls the police.
The Facebook page will be updated as needed and the hashtag #bringdebbyhome will be in use, as necessary.
Our sincere thanks go out to the police and fire department, especially their ground search crews, who initially supplied search dogs and helicopter resources, to Jasmine Staup and the Public Health Office staff who immediately set up a very organized search command center at Lanakila Church, and to the church ohana at Lanakila who have rallied behind our family.
A special thanks to Emerald Felmley and her search dog-in-training, Hoku, who spent numerous days trekking through the coffee lands of Kona searching for a scent trail of Debby. The local schools and churches: Konawaena Elementary, Middle and High School, Ho’okena, Kahakai, Lanakila Church and Kona Baptist Church allowed us to make copies and print flyers to pass out to the public. Local businesses including Teshima’s Restaurant, Big Island Grill, Loko Wraps, Hanna Shirai, Vivial, Cal-Kona, I‘o Kea Farms, and the Kealakekua Ranch Center, all provided food and other supplies for the volunteers.
And most of all, we thank the many people of our community who have so generously given time, energy and resources searching coffee and ranch lands, passing out flyers, and making music to “Sing Debby Home.”
We haven’t given up searching for Debby, and we hope in faith that she will be found. Whatever the outcome of this season, we are amazed and grateful for the great work God is doing in our family, and our incredible community. Please continue to keep us in your prayers in these days ahead. “… in our weakness, He is strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).
With Aloha,
Jim, Chris, Justin, Janel and Amber
Family of Deborah “Debby” Wiley
Insurers shouldn’t pick and choose which homes to cover
Here in Hawaii, volcanoes are a way of life. Which means lava. Why does our Hawaii government let insurance companies reject areas of what they consider too risky? Our state government should require insurance companies to make homeowners policies available for all. When an insurance company wants to do business in Hawaii, don’t let them pick and choose where they will write homeowners policies in only high-profit areas — that’s not fair to the people.
If need be, let the other islands subsidize with paying a small amount extra. Why not, we the Big Island residents are now and will be and subsidizing the Honolulu rail whether we like it or not. So, whats wrong with that? If the insurance company don’t like it … Aloha oe to them. Others will be lined up to take their place.
James Duke
Honaunau