Authorities have revealed new details surrounding the disappearance of 30-year-old photographer Hannah Kobayashi.
The missing Maui woman made headlines after vanishing after arriving in Los Angeles from Hawaii in early November.
Despite an extensive investigation, questions remain about her whereabouts and motivations, with police concluding that she likely entered Mexico voluntarily, but her family is more skeptical.
Kobayashi’s disappearance has drawn national attention, spurred by her family’s fears.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department’s Missing Persons Unit, she spent her last known hours in Los Angeles with a man she met near Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
Lt. Doug Oldfield explained that the pair met at LAX’s train stop on the night of November 11.
The man - described as a stranger to Kobayashi - struck up a conversation with her and assisted her in navigating to Union Station.
“She was looking to understand how to get to Union Station, and he was assisting her,” Oldfield said. The two spent roughly nine hours together, talking as they walked through downtown Los Angeles before arriving at the station.
The man later described Kobayashi as a “free spirit” who seemed coherent, calm, and talkative. According to Detective Omar Franco, “She just spoke and talked about her life in Maui, her personal life, her love life, and so forth. And he just listened to her.”
Their evening included dinner, and the two eventually fell asleep in a waiting area at Union Station. By morning, Kobayashi had gathered her belongings and left on her own.
Video footage and the man’s account confirmed that Kobayashi purchased a bus ticket at 6:10AM on November 12 and boarded shortly afterward. By noon that day, she had crossed the border into Tijuana, Mexico, on foot.
“She was alone, with her luggage, and appeared unharmed,” LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell stated during a press conference streamed by ABC 7 earlier this week. “At this time, Kobayashi’s case has been classified as a voluntary missing person.”
Her phone was inexplicably left behind at LAX, adding to the mystery. However, McDonnell added: "The investigators noted that before departing Maui, Kobayashi expressed the desire to step away from modern connectivity."
Initial reports suggested that Kobayashi might have been endangered by the man she met, but investigators have ultimately cleared him of any wrongdoing.
Oldfield noted that early in the investigation, there were “as many reasons that something could have gone totally wrong as there were reasons that everything was okay.”
Authorities tracked the man down within days of Kobayashi being reported missing. Video footage showed the two walking together, with no signs of distress. “We see a lot of smiling,” Oldfield said.
In one instance, Kobayashi passed by police officers, but she made no indication that she needed help.
Police interviewed the man twice, verifying his account of events through surveillance footage and other evidence.
“For the amount of time they spent together, he pretty much was an ear to listen,” Franco said.
Based on their findings, police have now classified Kobayashi’s disappearance as a voluntary act. They believe she chose to enter Mexico, though her family has strongly contested this conclusion.
Kobayashi’s mother and sister issued a statement earlier this week, emphasizing their commitment to bringing her home. They cautioned against “speculative conclusions” and urged the public to focus on verified information.
“Spreading awareness and sharing verified information about her case is crucial, and we deeply appreciate your continued support in these efforts,” they said.
While police have paused their investigation, Kobayashi’s case remains active in their system until her well-being is confirmed. Detectives expressed a desire to hear directly from her.
“We don’t have her side of the story,” Oldfield said. Franco added, “Everyone else is very invested in this now, and just what her thought process through all this was and what her end game or goal was.”
For now, the questions surrounding Hannah Kobayashi’s disappearance remain unanswered, leaving her family and friends hoping for clarity and a safe return.
Of course, this update comes after the tragic news that Hannah's father died by suicide amid the search for his daughter.
