Korean father and son missing after Oahu hike

A 49-year-old father and his 16-year-old son from South Korea remain missing in Hawaii after failing to return from a hike near Hanauma Bay on Oahu. The pair left their Waikiki hotel around 7 a.m. on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, to hike the Hanauma Bay Rock Bridge Trail. An extensive multi-agency search has been underway since, covering land, sea, and air.

The search began after a backpack containing the father’s personal belongings, including a phone and wallet, was found near an area known as Rock Bridge shortly before 9 a.m. on Tuesday. The Honolulu Fire Department also located the man’s car parked near the trailhead. Family members, who were accompanying them on the trip, reported them missing when they did not return.

Authorities are now operating on the presumption that the two were swept into the ocean. Honolulu Fire Department Captain Keopele Gowan said the father and son had planned to hike, not swim, and that officials are making the worst-case assumption they entered the water. While officials noted both are experienced swimmers in good physical condition, the search is focused on the assumption they are in the water and need assistance.

The coordinated effort involves the...