Woman tries to stay 'hopeful' after father's death as she searches for missing sister

HONOLULU (KHNL/Gray News) – The family of a missing girl remains determined to find her even after the unexpected death of her father who had traveled to Los Angeles to help in the search.

The search for Hannah Kobayashi continues and her sister, Sydni Kobayashi, says she is trying to stay hopeful despite what is happening.

“I want to remain hopeful, but with this consecutive situation, I feel lost. I feel devastated. I am heartbroken,” said Sydni Kobayashi.

She is still reeling from the loss of her father, Ryan, after he plunged to his death from a parking lot near the Los Angeles airport. He was looking for his daughter who had been missing for 13 days.

Amid the search for a missing Hawaiian woman last seen in Los Angeles, the woman's father was... — Amid the search for a missing Hawaiian woman last seen in Los Angeles, the woman’s father was found dead Sunday near LAX, police said.(Facebook: Help us find Hannah)

“He wasn’t sleeping. He didn’t eat and he cared so much about other people’s feelings and took care of the rest of the family. He didn’t want to speak alone about how he felt,” Sydni Kobayashi said.

She added: “We just never saw this coming. I’m not even mad at him. I know he fought his best.

The Thanksgiving holiday is also a cruel reminder of Hannah Kobayashi’s absence. Hannah Kobayashi has been missing since November 11, when she was last seen alive in downtown Los Angeles.

The family says they are frustrated by the lack of information provided by authorities, but more information is coming.

“I don’t think people understand how much information comes in that we have to filter and we can’t release anything until it’s 100 percent accurate,” Sydni Kobayashi said.

And the family tries to stay grateful this Thanksgiving, too.

“We are grateful to be able to support each other during this time, but tomorrow will be a very difficult day,” said Sydni Kobayashi. “She was supposed to come to Maui and be with us.”

Sydni Kobayashi vows to continue her sister’s search for their father.

“I know he wants us to find my sister,” she said. “I know he’s watching over us right now, and I know that’s what he wanted. And that’s what keeps me going right now.

Private investigator Debra Allen said the family was right to stay informed about the search.

“They’re doing the right thing by keeping that in mind and keeping it on topic,” Allen said. “A lot of people disappear and she doesn’t want to be one of many.”

Allen handles missing persons cases but is not involved in the search for Hannah Kobayashi.

She added that because the case attracted national attention, Hannah Kobayashi likely would have heard about the search being conducted for her and her father’s death.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Hannah Kobayashi is asked to call Los Angeles Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.