Missing Eleele Man Located Safely; Community Praised for Assistance

The Kaua‘i Police Department announced on January 6 that 38-year-old Tyson Hawelu of ʻEleʻele has been located and is in good health, and thanked the public for assistance. Hawelu had been reported missing after his last known contact on January 4; the department’s update closed an active search that had involved public tips and a police appeal.

When Hawelu was first reported missing, authorities described him as 5 feet 6 inches tall, about 170 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair. He was known to frequent the ʻEleʻele area and may have been operating a silver 2020 Toyota Tacoma with Nevada license plates. The initial KPD release included photos and vehicle descriptions to help residents identify him or report sightings.

The swift resolution underscores how timely information from neighbors and visitors can accelerate searches and reduce risks to vulnerable individuals. For families and community members, a rapid response can mean the difference between a safe return and longer-term exposure to hazards such as injury, illness, or environmental dangers that are amplified in rural island settings.

Kaua‘i faces persistent public health and equity challenges that can intersect with missing-person incidents. Limited access to behavioral health care, long distances between services, narrow transportation options, and housing instability can increase vulnerability for some residents. Those systemic gaps make community-based reporting, coordinated emergency response, and investments in locally accessible services especially important for public safety and health equity.

Residents who have information about missing persons or who want to report concerns should contact Kaua‘i Police Department Dispatch at (808) 241-1711. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers Kaua‘i at (808) 246-8300, submit a tip online at crimestopperskauai.org, or use the Crime Stoppers Kaua‘i P3 Tips Mobile App. These channels help ensure tips reach investigators while protecting the privacy of callers.

While this case ended positively, it also offers a reminder for policymakers and community leaders to strengthen supports that reduce risk: expand behavioral health services on-island, improve outreach to people experiencing housing or transportation insecurity, and ensure robust search-and-rescue coordination across Kaua‘i’s communities. Maintaining those systems can help keep residents safe, shorten search times, and reduce the health inequities that make some members of the community more vulnerable when they go missing.