Island Secrets: Hawaii’s Unsolved Cold Cases
From disappearances that defy explanation to crimes that continue to elude justice, Hawaii’s cold cases serve as a haunting reminder that even in paradise, secrets can linger just beneath the surface. Beneath the swaying palms and against the backdrop of spectacular volcanic landscapes, these mysteries have persisted for decades, challenging investigators and haunting the families of victims. The isolation of the Hawaiian archipelago—over 2,000 miles from the nearest continent—creates unique challenges for solving crimes.
Join me as we explore the chilling tales of these unsolved mysteries and unresolved crimes, piecing together clues and seeking answers to the questions that have endured for years. Hawaii’s complex cultural landscape, with its blend of native Hawaiian traditions, Asian influences, and mainland American presence, adds layers of complexity to investigations, particularly in cases that cross cultural boundaries. While tourists flock to experience the islands’ natural beauty and welcoming spirit, these cases reveal a darker undercurrent to paradise—one where the vast Pacific Ocean and remote mountain trails can conceal secrets for generations.
Hawaii’s Unsolved Cases: Mysteries in the Aloha State
Here is a list of cold or unsolved cases in the state of Hawaii (HI) that I’ve written about, arranged from oldest to newest:
Dawn Bustamante: Abducted and Murdered
Murdered on March 14, 1974 · Kailua, Oahu, Hawaii
Dawn Bustamante (13) and her friend Cherry Verdugo (13) were abducted at gunpoint by an unknown man in a white Plymouth Valiant. The girls were taken to a remote area near the Kiona’ole Road where the attacker assaulted Dawn and then attempted to do the same to Cherry. Dawn was shot in the head while Cherry managed to survive despite severe injuries after being strangled. Despite Cherry providing a description of their attacker and an intensive investigation that included hundreds of interviews, the perpetrator was never identified. Many decades later, this horrific crime remains one of Hawaii’s most notorious cold cases, with authorities still hoping that advances in DNA technology might eventually lead to the killer.
Five Men Aboard the Sarah Joe
Missing since February 11, 1979 · Hana, Maui, Hawaii
Benjamin Kalama, Ralph Malaiakini, Scott Moorman, Patrick Woesner, and Peter Hanchett—five friends ranging in age from 27 to 38—set out on a fishing trip aboard a 17-foot Boston Whaler named the Sarah Joe. Despite small craft advisories warning of dangerous weather conditions, the men departed from Hana Bay. When they failed to return by nightfall, one of the largest air and sea searches in Hawaii’s history was launched, covering over 73,000 square miles of ocean. No trace of the men or vessel was found until nine years later, when a marine biologist discovered debris from the Sarah Joe and a makeshift grave containing Scott Moorman’s partial remains on a remote atoll in the Marshall Islands, some 2,200 miles from Hana. How the boat traveled such a vast distance, what happened to the other four men, and who created the grave remain profound mysteries that continue to baffle investigators and maritime experts.
Daylenn “Moke” Pua: Vanished on the Stairway to Heaven
Missing since February 27, 2015 · Waianae, Oahu, Hawaii
18-year-old Daylenn “Moke” Pua disappeared while hiking the notoriously dangerous Stairway to Heaven Trail (Haiku Stairs) on Oahu. The day he vanished, Pua sent several photos to his family showing his progress along the hike, but he never returned to meet his grandmother as planned. Days after his disappearance, a hiker reviewing photos taken that same day noticed what appeared to be a figure resembling Pua in the background of one of their images, potentially with an unidentified person nearby. This photo sparked intense debate about whether Pua had encountered someone on the trail who might have been involved in his disappearance. Despite extensive searches by authorities, volunteers, and family members across the steep mountain range, no definitive evidence of what happened to the teenager has ever been found, leaving open the question of whether he suffered a tragic accident on the treacherous trail or met with foul play.
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Otherwise, I’ll see you on the trail of our next unsolved mystery. Until then, stay safe, Cold Case Explorers!
—Skylar Aries