Ryan Kobayashi searches for missing daughter, Hannah, falls to her death at LAX

On By Littum

The search for a missing Hawaii woman has turned tragic after her father, who was flying to Los Angeles to look for his daughter, fell to his death from a parking garage near the airport, according to police.

Ryan Kobayashi had spent 13 days searching for daughter Hannah, 30, who disappeared after she missed a connecting flight to New York on Nov. 8, a nonprofit working with the family told KTLA news.

His body was found around 4 a.m. Sunday in what authorities believe was an apparent suicide, NBC Los Angeles reported.

“This loss has compounded the family’s suffering immeasurably,” a nonprofit working with the family to find Hannah told KTLA in a statement.

The group urged the public to continue searching for Hannah as the family mourns the loss of its “pillar”.

Hannah Kobayashi was scheduled to fly from Hawaii to New York to visit her aunt upstate. But instead of catching her connecting flight in Los Angeles, surveillance footage showed her leaving the airport and taking the subway downtown.

The next day, she was seen on a TikTok video at The Grove mall, then sent a Venmo payment to two unknown people, according to KTLA. On November 11, her mother texted her asking if she had made it to New York.

Hannah Kobayashi
Hannah Kobayashi was last seen on November 8 at LAX Airport, after missing a connecting flight from Maui to New York. CA Department of Justice

She wrote back saying no and sent messages to friends saying she didn’t feel safe and that someone was trying to steal her money and identity.

“I was tricked into pretty much giving away all my money. From someone I thought I loved,” she wrote.

Other messages didn’t sound like her and used words like “she”, which she never used. A photo was submitted to her Instagram on Nov. 11, but no one has heard from her since, her family said.

Ryan Kobayashi represented the family in media interviews as they searched for Hannah.

“We just hope she’s safe and well and alive,” he said earlier this month. “And if anyone knows anything, we’d just appreciate any help.”

If you or a loved one is struggling with suicidal thoughts, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by calling or texting 988.