HI HI - Haena, Two UnsMales 25-30, UP13056 & UP13057, found side by side in Hanakoa Valley, rings, Mar'79

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HopeRains

HopeRains

My name is Lisa Coburn Kesler.
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  • #1
Starting a thread on these two, located together, in March 1979.

Originally thought to be a man and woman, NAMUS identifies both as males. I'm unable to see any DNA related info but note that NAMUS case updated in 2019. (Note that Claire Ueno, the investigator listed in Namus, passed away in 2017). I actually talked with Claire on this case probably 10-ish years ago and remember her telling me that the scene was very peaceful, no determined cause of death, it appeared they just laid down and went to sleep.

Unknown to me what has been determined since that conversation regarding any new/additional info.

1. Camp site area, single sleeping bag, water shelter/tarp, firewood
2. Empty single backpack
3. Pen from a California firm (I believe I saw somewhere it was a real estate firm)
4. Turquoise ring in silver setting (on victim presumed initially to be a woman)

I have a couple of snapshots of older articles I want to share, and am hopeful I will do it correctly but am sure someone will assist me if I do not - thanks! <mod edit: replaced screenshots with newspaper clipping links>
www.newspapers.com

UP13056 & UP13057 Unidentified Males 1979 HI

Clipping found in Honolulu Star-Advertiser published in Honolulu, Hawaii on 3/28/1979. UP13056 & UP13057 Unidentified Males 1979 HI
www.newspapers.com www.newspapers.com
www.newspapers.com

UP13056 & UP13057 Unidentified Males 1979 HI

Clipping found in Honolulu Star-Advertiser published in Honolulu, Hawaii on 3/20/1979. UP13056 & UP13057 Unidentified Males 1979 HI
www.newspapers.com www.newspapers.com
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #2
  • #3
  • #4
<modsnip - not an approved source>

The articles in the first post clarify that they were sharing the sleeping bag and shelter, and were found snuggled together.

Their Namus pages don't have any new information.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #5
carbuff said:
Their Namus pages don't have any new information.
Click to expand...
sbm. Says one of them had a beard (or "beard present"). I don't think that was mentioned in the articles. I'm guessing the other one didn't. Not very helpful though.
I wonder if they have DNA and they -know- "the other one" is a male, or if they're assuming due to the size/ appearance of the bones and the ring?
Were there no clothes present?
 
  • #6
In this article these two unidentified persons are slightly mentioned. The mysterious disappearances on a popular Hawaii trail

Could the cause of death be accidental poisoning? I remember a case about a Belgium couple that had eaten some kind of leaf, thinking it was eatable and died because of it. The difference is that the Belgium couple was not decomposed that much, so they could find traces in the body. What's against this is that I don't expect they went so peacefully though. Maybe this men took something together and they "just" went over to the other site, in peace.
 
  • #7
From The Honolulu Advertiser, Fri, april 13, 1979, page 7
www.newspapers.com

UP13056 & UP13057 Unidentified Males 1979 HI

Clipping found in Honolulu Star-Advertiser published in Honolulu, Hawaii on 4/13/1979. UP13056 & UP13057 Unidentified Males 1979 HI
www.newspapers.com www.newspapers.com
<mod edit: replaced screenshot with newspaper clipping link>
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #8
Unidentified Person/NamUs #UP13056
Male, Uncertain
Date Body Found: March 16, 1979
Location Found: Haena, Hawaii
Estimated Age Range: 25-30 Years

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.
www.namus.gov

Estimated Age Group: Adult - Pre 30
Estimated Age Range (Years): 25-30
Estimated Year of Death: 1979
Estimated PMI: 1 Months
Height: 5' 11"(71 inches) , Estimated
Weight: Cannot Estimate

Circumstances​

Type: Unidentified Deceased
Date Body Found: March 16, 1979
NamUs Case Created: October 30, 2014
ME/C QA Reviewed--

Location Found Map​

Location: Haena, Hawaii
County: Kauai County
GPS Coordinates (Not Mapped)--
Found On Tribal Land--
Circumstances of Recovery: Two male bodies were found side by side in Hanakoa Valley.

Details of Recovery​


Inventory of Remains--
Condition of Remains: Not recognizable - Mummified

Physical Description​

Hair Color--
Head Hair Description--
Body Hair Description--
Facial Hair Description: beard present
Left Eye Color--
Right Eye Color--
Eye Description--

Distinctive Physical Features​

No Known Information
Clothing and Accessories
Item
Description
Jewelry: ring
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Unidentified Person/NamUs #UP13057
Male, Uncertain
Date Body Found: March 16, 1979
Location Found: Haena, Hawaii

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.
www.namus.gov

Estimated Age Range: 25-30 Years
Estimated Age GroupAdult - Pre 30
Estimated Age Range (Years): 25-30
Estimated Year of Death: 1979
Estimated PMI: 4 Weeks
Height: 5' 9"(69 inches) , Estimated
Weight: Cannot Estimate

Circumstances​

Type: Unidentified Deceased
Date Body Found: March 16, 1979
NamUs Case Created: October 30, 2014
ME/C QA Reviewed--

Location Found Map​

Location: Haena, Hawaii
County: Kauai County
GPS Coordinates (Not Mapped)--
Found On Tribal Land--
Circumstances of Recovery: Two male bodies were found in Hanakoa Valley

Details of Recovery​

Inventory of Remains--
Condition of Remains: Not recognizable - Decomposing/putrefaction

Physical Description​

Hair Color--
Head Hair Description--
Body Hair Description--
Facial Hair Description--
Left Eye Color--
Right Eye Color--
Eye Description--

Distinctive Physical Features​

No Known Information
Clothing and Accessories
Item
Description
Jewelry: ring, not described
 
Last edited:
  • #9
Romulus said:
Unidentified Person/NamUs #UP13056
Male, Uncertain
Date Body Found: March 16, 1979
Location Found: Haena, Hawaii
Estimated Age Range: 25-30 Years

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.
www.namus.gov

Estimated Age Group: Adult - Pre 30
Estimated Age Range (Years): 25-30
Estimated Year of Death: 1979
Estimated PMI: 1 Months
Height: 5' 11"(71 inches) , Estimated
Weight: Cannot Estimate

Circumstances​

Type: Unidentified Deceased
Date Body Found: March 16, 1979
NamUs Case Created: October 30, 2014
ME/C QA Reviewed--

Location Found Map​

Location: Haena, Hawaii
County: Kauai County
GPS Coordinates (Not Mapped)--
Found On Tribal Land--
Circumstances of Recovery: Two male bodies were found side by side in Hanakoa Valley.

Details of Recovery​


Inventory of Remains--
Condition of Remains: Not recognizable - Mummified

Physical Description​

Hair Color--
Head Hair Description--
Body Hair Description--
Facial Hair Description: beard present
Left Eye Color--
Right Eye Color--
Eye Description--

Distinctive Physical Features​

No Known Information
Clothing and Accessories
Item
Description
Jewelry: ring
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Unidentified Person/NamUs #UP13057
Male, Uncertain
Date Body Found: March 16, 1979
Location Found: Haena, Hawaii

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.
www.namus.gov

Estimated Age Range: 25-30 Years
Estimated Age GroupAdult - Pre 30
Estimated Age Range (Years): 25-30
Estimated Year of Death: 1979
Estimated PMI: 4 Weeks
Height: 5' 9"(69 inches) , Estimated
Weight: Cannot Estimate

Circumstances​

Type: Unidentified Deceased
Date Body Found: March 16, 1979
NamUs Case Created: October 30, 2014
ME/C QA Reviewed--

Location Found Map​

Location: Haena, Hawaii
County: Kauai County
GPS Coordinates (Not Mapped)--
Found On Tribal Land--
Circumstances of Recovery: Two male bodies were found in Hanakoa Valley

Details of Recovery​

Inventory of Remains--
Condition of Remains: Not recognizable - Decomposing/putrefaction

Physical Description​

Hair Color--
Head Hair Description--
Body Hair Description--
Facial Hair Description--
Left Eye Color--
Right Eye Color--
Eye Description--

Distinctive Physical Features​

No Known Information
Clothing and Accessories
Item
Description
Jewelry: ring, not described
Click to expand...
Is it possible they were a gay couple? The fact that both of them had rings stood out to me.
 
  • #10
I’m not sure it’s two men. I think it could possibly be John McMinn MP19254 & Cordelia McMinn MP19259, a married couple who were last seen in Hanalei (about six miles from campsite) on 5/12/1976. Both were aged 26. John is described as having a height of 5’8”-6’0” and with beard. Cordelia is listed as being 5’6”. They had sailed to Hawaii on their self-built boat and were to be setting off again to Washington State. Last confirmed sighting was in Hanalei HI.

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.
www.namus.gov

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.
www.namus.gov
 
  • #11
How hard can it be to describe all rings, as in being a set belonging together, or completely different as in being just ad random rings. They must finally have decided that they were both male. Otherwise they would state in Namus "unsure" IMO.

From the article above in the tread.

www.newspapers.com

UP13056 & UP13057 Unidentified Males 1979 HI

Clipping found in Honolulu Star-Advertiser published in Honolulu, Hawaii on 3/20/1979. UP13056 & UP13057 Unidentified Males 1979 HI
www.newspapers.com www.newspapers.com
<mod edit: replaced screenshot with newspaper clipping link>
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #12
I came across an article about Taylor Camp, a hippie camp in the seventies on the island.
Paradise Lost: The Hippie Refugee Camp (I don't mind myself, but here is a nudity warning)

Maybe these two lived there an decided not to back to the "real world" after authorities shut it down in 1977.
 
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