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Dog sniffs out missing hiker after 24 hours
22 Oct
Summary
- A 70-year-old man was missing for over 24 hours on Hawaii's Big Island.
- A specialized K9 unit named Trina located the dehydrated hiker.
- The man was found on a trail roughly two miles from his rental car.
A 70-year-old man identified as David Arai was safely located after being missing for more than 24 hours in the Volcano area of Hawaii's Big Island. He was last seen before being reported missing on Monday, October 19th, 2026. His son indicated Arai was familiar with the area and often hiked alone.
Authorities found Arai's rental car within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. A coordinated search involving police, park personnel, and a fire department helicopter was launched. The crucial discovery was made by K9 Trina, a Labrador retriever, who tracked Arai to a trail approximately two miles from his vehicle.
Arai was found lying in bushes just off the trail. He was safely returned to the trailhead and taken to Hilo Benioff Medical Center for treatment of dehydration and exposure. This marks the second successful missing person location by K9 Trina in recent months.
