LOS ANGELES – A Hawaii woman who missed a connecting flight in Los Angeles is missing after being seen on camera at the airport and a major shopping center, her family and police said.
Hannah Kobayashi, 31, was last heard from on Nov. 11, her family says, after missing a connecting flight from Maui to New York City at Los Angeles International Airport days earlier on Nov. 8.
Kobayashi is described as being 6 feet tall, weighing about 140 pounds and having brown hair and eyes, and fair skin with freckles. The family filed a missing persons report with the Los Angeles Police Department on November 12.
Larie Pidgeon, Kobayashi’s aunt, told USA TODAY on Sunday that the family received text messages from Kobayashi shortly before her disappearance that were out of character.
“On Nov. 11, we got texts saying she didn’t feel safe, that someone was trying to steal her money, that someone was trying to take her identity,” Pidgeon said. “Strange things, calling us sweetie, things that weren’t quite the normal way she talks.”
USA TODAY has reached out to LAPD for more information.
Timeline of Kobayashi’s disappearance
The family has obtained security footage showing Kobayashi leaving the airport on November 8, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, tie-dye leggings and a dark green backpack.
Pidgeon said Kobayashi was seen twice at The Grove shopping center, about 10 miles northeast of LAX. She was seen by employees at the mall’s Taschen bookstore around noon on November 9 and on video at a Nike event on November 10 around 3:40 p.m. A photo from the two-day Nike and LeBron James event was posted to her Instagram the same day.
Kobayashi returned to LAX on Nov. 11 but did not board a flight, the family said, citing airport officials. Kobayashi’s phone, with an Audrey Hepburn case, last pinged LAX on November 11, but has not been found.
The family released a statement Sunday evening saying they had obtained surveillance footage showing Kobayashi near the Pico Metro station near the Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles.
“The images clearly show that Hannah does not appear to be in good condition and that she is not alone,” the statement said.
The statement did not say when the footage was taken, citing the ongoing investigation, but did ask those searching for Kobayashi to focus on the area near the arena and “remain vigilant when using the subway anywhere in the city.” “
Search focused on train near airport
Kobayashi’s family has arrived in Los Angeles to look for her. Pidgeon said the search has focused on the area near LAX, a bus line and the Los Angeles metro’s C and K line trains.
The family started a GoFundMe page to offset costs associated with the search. Pidgeon said the family hopes to find Kobayashi, but recognizes time is of the essence.
“It’s been seven days, but in dog years,” Pidgeon said. “In the case of human trafficking and kidnapping, this can take three months.”
This story has been updated with new information.
Persons with information on Kobayashi’s whereabouts are asked to call the LAPD at 1-877-527-3247 or The Rad Movement at 619-904-0840.
