Hannah Kobayashi: Missing Hawaii woman's family continues search in LA
LOS ANGELES - The family of Hannah Kobayashi, who vanished earlier this month after missing a connecting flight in Los Angeles, held a rally Wednesday to give the latest update on the search for the missing 31-year-old Hawaii woman.
The rally took place at 3 p.m. outside Crypto.com Arena, not far from the Metro Pico station where she was last seen.
"We were able to get footage of her boarding the Metro with an unidentified person and getting off two blocks over here at the pico station," said Larie Pideon, a relative of Hannah.
They've chased leads in Skid Row and analyzed the smallest details, like her last text messages… suspicious they're not from her at all.
"It was strange messages about someone trying to steal her identity, someone trying to take her funds. She speaks in emojis, and I know that sounds strange, but when you know your family, there wasn't a single emoji in any of those text messages," Pideon added.
Ryan Kobayahi flew from Oahu to LA a week ago. He said he was estranged from his daughter, but vows that will change once he sees her again.
"I just wish I could have been there more for her. Trying to find her is everything," her dad emotionally said.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Hannah Kobayashi: Search continues for Hawaii woman who disappeared from LAX
Kobayashi was reported missing by her family to the Los Angeles Police Department on Nov. 12 after she missed a connecting flight from Maui to New York City at LAX days earlier on Nov. 8.
Security footage obtained by Kobayashi's family shows her leaving the airport on Nov. 8, wearing a black hoodie, tie-dye leggings, and carrying a dark green backpack.
According to her family, Kobayashi was seen at The Grove on Nov. 9 and 10. On the 10th, Kobayashi posted to her Instagram a black-and-white photo from the two-day Nike and LeBron James event she apparently attended at the shopping center located about 14 miles north of the airport.
Kobayashi returned to LAX on Nov. 11 but did not board a flight, according to the family, who cited airport staffers. Kobayashi's phone last pinged at LAX on Nov. 11.
"It's just very unlike her to disappear," said Sydni Kobayashi, who is in Los Angeles searching for her sister.
Concerns grew when family said they received "strange" messages from her cell phone that "didn't sound like her."
"Even in those text messages, it just didn't seem like her or it seemed like someone else, or maybe someone did something to her to alter her state of mind, because that's not how she normally speaks," Sydni said.
Kobayashi is described as 5'10", 140 lbs., with brown hair and hazel eyes. She has freckles on her face and a tattoo of a knife on her forearm, according to the LAPD.
If you see Kobayashi or have any information regarding her whereabouts, contact the LAPD at 1-877-LAPD-24-7. You can also remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
The Source: This story was reported with information from the Los Angeles Police Department, as well as interviews with the Kobayashi family.