Man's puzzling disappearance in national park triggers frantic 24-hour search involving K-9

A 70-year-old man disappeared for more than 24 hours, prompting an extensive search that stretched into the evening.

The Oahu man was last seen in the Big Island's Volcano area before he was reported missing around 12:16 p.m. Oct. 19, according to the Hawaii Police Department.

The man was identified as David Arai, whose son told Hawaii-based news station KHON2 his father was familiar with the area's hiking trails and that he frequently hiked alone.

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Police believed the man was at risk due to his age and other information gathered during the investigation.

Officers later located Arai's empty rental car inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, according to the department.

After a 70-year-old man went missing from O'ahu, an extensive search took place in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, seen above, on Hawaii's Big Island. (iStock)

Hawaii Island police and National Park personnel searched the area on the ground, while a Hawaii Fire Department helicopter assisted from above.

Fox News Digital reached out to the Hawaii Police Department and David Arai for comment.

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K-9 Trina, a 3-year-old Labrador retriever specially trained to track people by scent, joined the search with her handler, Officer Christopher Ross, police said.

At about 7:30 p.m., Trina located the man on a trail roughly 2 miles from where his rental car had been found, according to the department.

Ross told KHON2 that Arai was lying on his back in bushes just off the trail when they found him.

David Arai, pictured at left, went missing on Hawaii's Big Island, triggering a search that involved K-9 Trina, at right. The man had been suffering from dehydration and exposure, police said.  (Hawaii Police Department/X)

Trina approached the man and licked his hand, according to the officer.

"The man was safely carried back to the trailhead and was subsequently transported to Hilo Benioff Medical Center for medical treatment due to dehydration and exposure," the department said in the press release.

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The discovery marked the second time in two months that Trina located a missing person, according to police.

Originally from Sweden, Trina is trained to help locate missing children and endangered adults throughout Hawaii.

Just last month, she helped authorities locate an endangered teenager in Waikoloa, police said.

After he went missing in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, the man was transported to a medical center for treatment.  (George Rose/Getty Images)

Fox News Digital previously reported on another search for an older hiker who disappeared during a trip in Northern California.

Mary Beth Granbery, 72, was reported missing after leaving for a multiday camping trip on Sept. 28 and failing to return as expected.

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Family members later found her camper van at the Cabin Creek Trailhead, prompting authorities in Siskiyou and Shasta counties to launch a coordinated search.

The man was lying on his back in bushes just off the trail.

Ground crews found Granbery alive near Cabin Creek on Oct. 4 after she fell down a steep embankment and suffered serious injuries and exposure to the elements.

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A California Highway Patrol helicopter helped lift Granbery from the rugged terrain before she was taken to a hospital, where authorities said she was in stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries.

The national park is also home to Kilauea, which recently erupted for the 55th time since late 2024 after a rare two-month pause, according to Fox Weather.

Kelly McGreal is a member of the lifestyle team at Fox News Digital. She and the team cover travel, food and drink, health, relationships and more. She also produces the weekly American Culture Quiz and handles other special projects.