The Hawaii Island Police Department has put out a call for a missing person, 29-year-old Shanice Ogata-Staudinger, who did not return from picking opihi, according to a news release.
The Pahoa woman was reportedly picking opihi with a relative on July 9 at 11 a.m. in the vicinity of Kahakai Blvd. and Papio St. in Pahoa, commonly known as Hau Bush. When the two became separated, Ogata-Staudinger failed to meet her relative at a pre-arranged spot later in the afternoon.
Police report that emergency personnel, including police and Hawaii Fire Department’s Chopper One, assisted by the U.S. Coast Guard, conducted an extensive search in the area throughout the night.
HFD units returned to the scene at first light on Monday and a canine from the police department’s Area I unit was deployed to conduct a more extensive ground search, according to police.
Ogata-Staudinger is described as a local woman with brown hair, hazel eyes, has a medium build, stands at 5 feet 2 inches in height and weighs 150 pounds. She was last seen wearing a black tank top, blue jeans and purple tabi water shoes. She has a dollar sign symbol tattoo on her left cheek.
Police ask for the public’s assistance to contact the police department’s non-emergency line at 808-935-3311 if they have any information on the missing woman.
Sarah Yamanaka covers events, environmental and community news for Spectrum News Hawaii. She can be reached at sarah.yamanaka@charter.com.