Family and friends of Big Island teen Daylenn “Moke” Pua continued the search this past week for the youth, who went missing Feb. 27 while hiking on Oahu.
Weeks after officials called off the search, volunteers including off-duty military personnel pressed on, Pua’s aunt, Uliana Watson said this week.
“We have to hang onto faith,” Watson said. “And God willing, Moke will be home soon.”
Watson was part of a group of volunteers based in Moanalua Community Park, making lunches for hikers who were trekking some four to six hours in to the latest search site.
“An immense amount of people gave up their personal time,” Watson said.
Pua, 18, was last seen boarding a bus in Waianae, heading for Stairway to Heaven, a popular off-limits trail north of Honolulu. Pua later texted photographs of himself in the area, and in the days after his disappearance, fire department, military and volunteer crews and drones combed the Koolau Range for sign of him. Heavy rains hampered early search attempts.
The trail is comprised of a series of stairs that follow the crests of narrow ridgelines. Numerous hikers had to be rescued from the steep, muddy and dangerous area in February.
Pua is a senior at Ke Kula o Ehunuikaimalino Hawaiian immersion school in Kealakekua, with a strong interest in culinary education and art.
A gofundme site raised $15,098 to help fund the search.
The site states: “A child is a prized lei, never to be forgotten.”