HI HI - Manuel Duran, 56, planned trip to Philippines in a kayak, car missing, Honolulu, 7 Dec 2018

[cybervampira]

HPD News

CrimeStoppers and the Honolulu Police Department are seeking the public’s assistance in locating Manuel “Noli” Duran, who was last heard from on Friday, December 7, 2018, when he set sail in a kayak, bound for the Philippines. Duran had apparently planned this trip in advance, purchased supplies in hopes to make it to the Philippines in 30 days to visit his girlfriend and daughter. Duran’s vehicle, a 2005 gold Chevy Astrovan bearing Hawaii license plates RRY 208 is also missing. His family and friends are very concerned for his safety and well-being.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call CrimeStoppers at
955-8300 or *CRIME on your cellular phone. Free cellular calls are provided by AT&T, Nextel Hawaii, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless Hawaii, Mobi PCS, and Hawaiian Telcom. The public may now send anonymous web tips to www.honolulucrimestoppers.org or via the P3 Tips app.

CrimeStoppers will pay a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information that leads to the arrest of a suspect. Do not approach any suspect. All suspects and wanted fugitives should be considered armed and dangerous. All calls are confidential and anonymous. CrimeStoppers rewards are not paid to persons who participate in a crime, nor are victims of a crime, or in missing person cases. Be a CrimeStopper and call the hot line at 955-8300 or *Crime on your cellular telephone. Access the CrimeStoppers website at www.honolulucrimestoppers.org 010/19.

Honolulu Police Department (Official Site)

Man who planned to kayak to Philippines still missing after nearly 2 months

 

[meanmaryjean]

How exactly was he supposed to stay alive and paddle for 30 days in a kayak?
No snark intended but did he have mental health issues?

 

[dulcinea]

This is a weird story. Given that his vehicle is also missing, how do we know it's true he was going to kayak to the Philippines?

 

[silverjug]

How exactly was he supposed to stay alive and paddle for 30 days in a kayak?
No snark intended but did he have mental health issues?

I wondered that, and how much in the way of supplies could a kayak hold? All sounds rather odd to me.

 

[GraceG]

How exactly was he supposed to stay alive and paddle for 30 days in a kayak?
No snark intended but did he have mental health issues?

He would have had to paddle 181 miles a DAY to get there in 30 days. Something was not right in his thinking, that's for sure.

 

[ttcRider]

This is a weird story. Given that his vehicle is also missing, how do we know it's true he was going to kayak to the Philippines?

Maybe he changed his mind and decided to drive instead.

 

[zecats]

This is a weird story. Given that his vehicle is also missing, how do we know it's true he was going to kayak to the Philippines?

In the Pacific Ocean no less. I have to say, that’s one I’ve never heard before.

 

[zecats]

He would have had to paddle 181 miles a DAY to get there in 30 days. Something was not right in his thinking, that's for sure.

And navigate. So strange. Especially if his car is also missing.

 

[Elainera]

Manuel “Noli” Duran, who was last heard from on Friday, December 7, 2018, when he set sail in a kayak, bound for the Philippines.

Apparently he did set off in the kayak? People actually saw him?

This is crazy

 

[ttcRider]

Apparently he did set off in the kayak? People actually saw him?

This is crazy

No one thought to try and talk him out of it??

 

[Elainera]

Since I know nothing about kayaks I browsed through the Wikipedia page. Surprised to find that modern kayaks often have installed other methods than just paddling.

"Some modern boats vary considerably from a traditional design but still claim the title "kayak", for instance in eliminating the cockpit by seating the paddler on top of the boat ("sit-on-top" kayaks); having inflated air chambers surrounding the boat; replacing the single hull by twin hulls, and replacing paddles with other human-powered propulsion methods, such as foot-powered rotational propellers and "flippers". Kayaks are also being sailed, as well as propelled by means of small electric motors, and even by outboard gas engines."

Kayak - Wikipedia

Maybe he had a motor on his kayak?

I wonder whether he is an experienced kayaker.

 

[ttcRider]

I think Kayaking to the Philippines would be one for the record books. IMO

 

[CluelessWonder]

For starters, I'm pretty sure that this would have been a world record-setting kayak trip. My research shows that there is an ocean current that might have carried him at about 5-8 miles per hour. But the trip is about 5,000 miles. I'm going to assume that this man is an accomplished kayaker who used an abundance of care and planning for this trip. But, even so, I can't imagine that he could have attempted such a journey without realizing that it was highly unlikely that he'd ever survive.

So...my theory. This man's whole situation is a hoax. He was going to turn up on some island and claim a dramatic tale about being stranded at sea for weeks or months.

As for his van, it was 15 years old. It couldn't have been worth more than a few thousand dollars. I doubt that anyone did anything with it. Why would they? It's more likely that he sold it to pay for supplies.

I want to know why this is being reported as a police Crimestoppers investigation. To police have some reason to believe that a crime was committed?

 

[CluelessWonder]

Why He Kayaked Across the Atlantic at 70 (for the Third Time)

I guess there are kayaks that have cabins. Who knew? Also, note that the man who sailed across the Atlantic had a satellite phone. I didn't think about that. But if Manuel had one, there might be some communications related to it. Calls by someone other than him? Who knows.

 

[zecats]

Why He Kayaked Across the Atlantic at 70 (for the Third Time)

I guess there are kayaks that have cabins. Who knew? Also, note that the man who sailed across the Atlantic had a satellite phone. I didn't think about that. But if Manuel had one, there might be some communications related to it. Calls by someone other than him? Who knows.

A little more info on the man, the kayak and his supplies would help. Instead of just making it sound like a person with no sense setting off in a kayak to paddle across the Pacific to the Philippines. JMO

 

[GraceG]

Since I know nothing about kayaks I browsed through the Wikipedia page. Surprised to find that modern kayaks often have installed other methods than just paddling.

"Some modern boats vary considerably from a traditional design but still claim the title "kayak", for instance in eliminating the cockpit by seating the paddler on top of the boat ("sit-on-top" kayaks); having inflated air chambers surrounding the boat; replacing the single hull by twin hulls, and replacing paddles with other human-powered propulsion methods, such as foot-powered rotational propellers and "flippers". Kayaks are also being sailed, as well as propelled by means of small electric motors, and even by outboard gas engines."

Kayak - Wikipedia

Maybe he had a motor on his kayak?

I wonder whether he is an experienced kayaker.

If you go to "Crimestoppers Honolulu" FB page they have a picture of the Kayak. Looks pretty basic to me.

 

[CluelessWonder]

It's not a great photo of the kayak. It does look like an outrigger. I hope I'm using the correct terminology. But you wouldn't think that the unseen part of the kayak includes any kind of cabin. I searched all over for some kind of publicity about this man's kayaking hobby. I didn't find anything. It's almost as if some random dude bought a kayak and some gear and just pushed off from shore.

 

[doodles1211]

Crimestoppers Honolulu

 

[Elainera]

Crimestoppers Honolulu

Well it has a sail at least. Maybe it has a motor as well.

Not sure what to think. Maybe he's gonna surprise everyone and turn up alive, I hope that. But it's been two months, so chances are slim.

Are there smaller islands on the way he could have reached?

 

[doodles1211]

Well it has a sail at least. Maybe it has a motor as well.

Not sure what to think. Maybe he's gonna surprise everyone and turn up alive, I hope that. But it's been two months, so chances are slim.

Are there smaller islands on the way he could have reached?

The only thing smaller he could have taken is one of those wave boards!