Hawaii
Missing Hawaii woman Hannah Kobayashi’s sister remembers their dad after he kills himself, ‘You’re with the angels’
The sister of missing Hawaii woman Hannah Kobayashi has shared a touching tribute for their father after his shocking suicide. 58-year-old Ryan Kobayashi jumped to his death during the ongoing search for Hannah, who mysteriously vanished while heading to New York City.
“You’re with the angels, dad,” Sydni Kobayashi wrote on Facebook alongside a photo of Ryan. “I love you and miss you so much. I’m going to continue to stay strong for you. We’re going to find Hannah.”
Ryan was found dead on Sunday, November 24, after he jumped off a parking structure near the Los Angeles International Airport. This was where his missing daughter, Hannah, missed a connecting flight to New York over two weeks ago, according to police, New York Post reported.
Sydni shared the news of her father’s tragic passing on Facebook, writing, “We are heartbroken to share that my father, Ryan Kobayashi, has tragically passed during the search for Hannah. As we continue searching for Hannah, we also face the unexpected costs of Ryan’s funeral. Donations will now support both the search for Hannah and honoring Ryan’s memory. My mom, Brandi, will handle donations and help me coordinate the search and my dad’s funeral.”
Ryan’s family and police do not know what prompted Ryan to kill himself. He spent13 days looking for Hannah.
The disappearance of Hannah Kobayashi
On November 8, Hannah flew from Maui to Los Angeles, where she was supposed to board a connecting flight to New York for a “bucket list” trip and to visit her aunt. However, she missed the flight, although surveillance footage suggested that she landed at LAX.
More surveillance videos have emerged, one of which shows Hannah at the Grove shopping center in the Fairfax District of LA on November 9 and November 10. One video also shows her returning to LAX but not getting on a flight on November 11 before she was spotted near the metro station, as reported by USA Today.
Hannah’s family reportedly received strange texts from her before she disappeared. One message claimed she “got tricked into pretty much giving away all my funds.” “Deep Hackers wiped my identity, stole all of my funds, & have had me on a mind f—k since Friday,” one of the final messages said.
Hannah’s family believes the messages they got from Hannah were unlike her. They filed a police report with the LAPD, LAX authorities and the FBI. Hannah is reportedly 5 feet 10 inches tall and about 140 pounds, and has brown hair and brown eyes. She is fair-skinned with freckles.
Discussing suicides can be triggering for some. However, suicides are preventable. If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Gov. Josh Green today issued a statement regarding a federal lawsuit challenging the eligibility requirements within the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act.
“The Hawaiian Homes Commission Act was established to address the historic dispossession of Native Hawaiians and reflects a longstanding commitment to them by both the federal government and the state of Hawaiʻi,” said Green.
“This lawsuit threatens that commitment. I have directed the Department of the Attorney General to vigorously defend the Hawaiian Homes program. We will fight this lawsuit with everything we have,” he said.
The lawsuit was filed by Eric Ryan, an Oʻahu resident who is not Native Hawaiian and tried to apply for a lease, but was denied due to the 50% Native Hawaiian blood quantum requirement, according to Hawaiʻi News Now and court documents published at Courthouse News Service.
The Class Action Complaint argues that the “explicitly ancestry-based requirement” establishes a “permanent government mandate for state officials to engage in outright racial discrimination, perpetuates stereotypes, and limits housing opportunities for most Hawai‘i residents. The blood-quantum requirement thus violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution,” the complaint alleges.
Green said the administration “stands firmly with the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and the thousands of Native Hawaiian beneficiaries who rely on this program and its promise for future generations.”
Attorney General Anne Lopez also issued a statement saying the state of Hawaiʻi has both a legal and moral obligation to uphold the commitments embodied in the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act.
“This lawsuit seeks to dismantle a program that has provided opportunities, stability and hope to generations of Native Hawaiian beneficiaries,” said Lopez.
Solicitor General Kalikoʻonālani Fernandes, who has extensive experience handling complex constitutional litigation on behalf of the state, will lead the legal team in defending the state against the challenge.
“We are prepared to vigorously defend the Hawaiian Homes program and the promises it represents,” said Lopez.
Under the Green administration, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands has accelerated the delivery of homestead opportunities and expanded pathways to homeownership for Native Hawaiian beneficiaries.
In 2025 alone, DHHL offered more than 2,500 lease awards and continues to advance major housing projects, including Hale Mōʻiliʻili on Oʻahu, which will provide 278 affordable rental units for beneficiaries.
“These efforts reflect the administration’s commitment to reducing wait times, strengthening Native Hawaiian communities and fulfilling the promise of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act,” according to the governor’s announcement.
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Concrete fell from the exterior of an Ala Moana Center parking structure Monday afternoon near the Kapiolani Boulevard exit, damaging a vehicle.
No injuries were reported.
Security blocked an exit lane as debris scattered across the roadway. Ala Moana Center said they are grateful no one was hurt, and the lane will remain closed while structural engineers and construction professionals assess the damage and make repairs.
Copyright 2026 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
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