Hannah Kobayashi, a 30-year-old woman from Hawaii, vanished during a layover at Los Angeles International Airport on November 8, and her family is desperate to find her. Tragically, her father, Ryan Kobayashi, who had been searching tirelessly for her, died by suicide on Sunday near the airport.
Ryan’s death has left the family shattered. “This has been an unimaginable loss,” they said in a statement shared by a nonprofit helping with the search. Ryan had been in Los Angeles for almost two weeks, combing the city for any signs of his daughter.
Here’s what we know about Hannah’s disappearance and her father’s heartbreaking journey.
A Trip That Took a Terrible Turn
Hannah was supposed to fly from Maui to New York, with a layover in Los Angeles on November 8. She had plans to visit her aunt in upstate New York and photograph a music event in Brooklyn. Strangely, she never boarded her connecting flight. Her sister Sydni said Hannah and an ex-boyfriend had booked the same itinerary but were going to separate destinations after arriving in New York.
Over the next few days, Hannah was spotted at different locations in Los Angeles, including a bookstore at The Grove shopping center and a Nike event, where she even posted a photo on Instagram. But things quickly took a darker turn. On November 11, Hannah texted her mother, saying she hadn’t made it to New York. She also messaged a friend, saying she didn’t feel safe and believed someone was trying to steal her identity and money. One of her messages read, “Deep hackers wiped my identity, stole all of my funds, & have had me on a mind f**k since Friday.”
Surveillance footage later showed Hannah at a downtown Los Angeles Metro train station near Crypto.com Arena. Her family said she wasn’t alone in the video and looked unwell, but they didn’t share more details.
A Father’s Heartbreaking Mission
Ryan flew to Los Angeles as soon as he heard his daughter was missing. He spoke to reporters, explaining that he hadn’t been close to Hannah in recent years but wanted to make things right. “I’m just trying to get her back,” he said. “That’s my main focus.”
But after nearly two weeks of searching with no answers, Ryan’s body was found near the airport early Sunday morning. The Los Angeles County medical examiner ruled his death a suicide. His family believes he died of a broken heart.
“This loss has been devastating,” said Hannah’s aunt, Larie Pidgeon. “Ryan was determined to bring Hannah home. He loved her so much.”
The Family’s Plea for Help
Despite the tragedy, the Kobayashi family is determined to keep searching for Hannah. “Ryan would have wanted us to continue with the same love and determination he showed,” they said in a statement. They’ve called on the community to join the effort, saying, “We need your strength. We need your help. Together, we can bring Hannah home.”
A GoFundMe page has been set up to support Ryan’s fiancée during this difficult time. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Police Department and Maui Police Department continue to assist in the search for Hannah.
As the days pass, her family is holding onto hope, even as they navigate the unimaginable grief of losing Ryan. They are urging anyone with information about Hannah to come forward.