Deceased/Not Found HI - Samuel Martinez, 23, from Nebraska, missed flight home, Kauai, 12 May 2021

[JaredScheppers]

Here are a few updates pictures of Sam as well. From around the 10th-12th

 

[lucky181]

I'm on the Big Island and just saw his parents on KHON2 6pm news. They became concerned after not hearing from him after 5/13. He was planning on keeping his family/friends updated. They are holding out hope that he'll be found.

Hawaii News, Weather, Sports, Breaking News & Live Video | Honolulu, HI | KHON2

 

[lucky181]

His snapchat videos from 1am 5/13 are posted in the Kauai Community fb.

Kauai Community

 

[KatzEye]

From Kaua'i Police Department FB post :

--Nebraska man still missing after extensive land and air search operation--

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About two dozen people from the Kaua‘i Police Department, the Kaua‘i Fire Department—including an Air-1 pilot and personnel from Rescue 3—the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Kaua‘i Civil Air Patrol, and Kaua‘i Search and Rescue took part in land and air searches Sunday from about 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Kōke‘e State Park near the Kōke‘e Lodge was used as a landing zone for the numerous aerial checks conducted by Air-1.
Ground crews were also dispatched to Waimea and Kalalau valleys where personnel searched the areas and spoke to campers, providing them with photos and information pertaining to the missing man.

The post says more land/air searches will take place tomorrow starting at 9 am.

 

[Inthedetails]

From Kaua'i Police Department FB post :

--Nebraska man still missing after extensive land and air search operation--

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The post says more land/air searches will take place tomorrow starting at 9 am.

Glad to hear about the searches as I was concerned for a moment there wasn't much of an effort being made. Good luck to the searchers, may their work be successful.

jmo

 

[hibachai]

Really hoping Samuel turns up soon and that he’s out there exploring.

Someone asked about how he planned to get around on the island - Samuel did not rent a car, so he was likely using buses and taxis/Uber/Lyft or hitching rides. I looked into the public transportation and there aren’t any direct buses from LIH airport to Kokee State Park, but there are buses to Waimea, which is close to Kokee State Park. He could’ve travelled through Waimea to eventually reach Kokee State Park.

Parents of missing Nebraska man on Kauai say Kokee State Park was top of his list to visit | KHON2

 

[hibachai]

“According to his parents, police told them another hiker saw Samuel at a campsite at Kokee State Park on May 13.

‘Hiker said that Samuel told him he had hitched a ride so far and then hiked up the rest way and that’s where he was going to be camping,’ said his mother, Cherie Martinez.”

Parents of missing Nebraska man on Kauai say Kokee State Park was top of his list to visit | KHON2

 

[Mauig’ma]

Live on Maui trying to get friends to head to Kauai to help search. Praying hard for a good outcome

 

[zencompass]

Live on Maui trying to get friends to head to Kauai to help search. Praying hard for a good outcome

Dear @Mauig'ma,

This is so magnificent of you! What a blessing.

My hope is great that Samuel will be found safe.

 

[zecats]

Hawaii police ask for help finding missing Nebraska man

Permits acquired for each place he planned to camp. Anyone there at these sites to check on permits? Sign ins? I’m guessing these were not in a loop so not possible to search in between each place, though there are dates. If he was at one and not the next, that area might be the best place to search.I’m sure I’m not saying anything not already figured out.

Still hopeful. We had a case on here where a female hiker missing on Maui was found safe after quite a long while.

 

[Inthedetails]

Still hopeful. We had a case on here where a female hiker missing on Maui was found safe after quite a long while.

snipped

I read up on her story yesterday and it gave me hope.

jmo

 

[rainynights]

The reporter in the video at link describes his trip as a "late spring break trip."

Video also includes interview with his parents, and some video of the last Snapchat that was taken during his first night.

Nebraska man reported missing after not returning home from Hawaii (video at link)

[...]

His father, Ted Martinez, said Saturday the family hasn’t heard from Samuel Martinez since a few hours after he landed on the island.

Ted Martinez said the family filed a missing persons report with Lincoln Police on Wednesday a day after Samuel Martinez missed his flight home.

 

[lucky181]

About two dozen members of the Kauai Police Department, Kauai Fire Department, Hawaii State Department of Land and Natural Resources, Kauai Civil Air Patrol and Kauai Search and Rescue took part in land and air searches from approximately 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sunday.

“Many acres” were searched, including the Kukui Trail, Sugi Grove, the Alakai Trail and Kalalau Beach, KPD said. Kauai Fire Department’s Air-1 helicopter was also able to traverse the entire inaccessible western and northern regions of the area.

Crews were also dispatched to Waimea and Kalalau valleys, where personnel searched and provided campers in those areas with photos and information pertaining to Martinez.

Additional searches were scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. today, with the majority of attention being paid to the Koke’e Lodge area.

Kauai crews continue search for missing Nebraska man

 

[rainynights]

Parents of missing UNL student Samuel Martinez speak out



[...]

"There's been a call into the Kauai Police Department yesterday," Ted said. "A store clerk at a grocery store did see him, they pulled footage, we'll hear today if that was Samuel. He's pretty identifiable. We have photos of his gear because we have his Amazon account."

[...]

Ted tells 3 News Now the search team will go out and use more technology and try to gain access through Verizon to Sam's cell phone and possible GPS location.

The police, fire department, civil air patrol and rangers used aerial assets and boots on the ground to search Sam's known campsite reservation locations. They've passed out fliers and talked to other hikers who might have seen Sam on the trails.

“Help him come home” Parents of UNL student missing in Hawaii asking for help

[...]

Samuel’s parents, Cherie and Ted, live in North Bend and say Samuel left Omaha on the 12th for a 14-day solo trip. Something they say he’s wanted to do for a long time.

[...]

“We have wanted every hour to go to Eppley to get on a plane to go to Kaua’i, however, what is best for Samuel is not his mother and father up in the mountains lost and launching a search party for us,” said Ted. “We’ve been professionally advised to stay here with family members and build the information and social media base and follow up with Kaua’i and help them by getting them information about Sam from his friends and his digital footprint.”

Ted and Cherie say they wanted to include photos of his camping gear in case anyone using the trails in Hawaii during the busy holiday weekend may spot it.

 

[rainynights]

Search for Nebraska man, Samuel Martinez, continues Monday | The Garden Island

[...]

Extensive land and air searches began Sunday, May 30, with focus on Koke‘e and Waimea state parks, including the Kukui Trail, Sugi Grove, the Alakai Trail and Kalalau Beach. Air 1 visited inaccessible western and northern regions of the island, according to a report.

Personnel were able to identify the location of a pasture on the way to Koke‘e that Martinez took videos of on May 13, one of his last known locations.

[...]

An employee at the Waimea Big Save market recognized Sam, but did not have a confirmed date or time. Footage, as well as GPS location of Sam’s cellphone, are being accessed, father Ted Martinez said Monday.

[...]

Martinez, a senior at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln, was traveling with a black Osprey hiking backpack, a gray and green Kelty Salida Camping tent and bright green sleeping bag, according to photos provided by family.

Kaua'i safety officials scour hiking trails for Nebraska man who has been missing for 5 days

Ted and Cherie said Martinez just turned 23 while he was on Kaua'i and he wanted to travel before finishing his undergraduate degree at the University of Nebraska.

[...]

"He has hiked before but he's not experienced," Ted Martinez said.

[...]

Cherie Martinez described her son as "kind and friendly."

 

[aarroyo]

Heard news today that Chris Berquist is on Kauai helping lead the search. For those who don't know, Chris was heavily involved with the search for Amanda Eller a few years ago and ultimately was one of the guys who found her after she was lost in the jungle for over two weeks. This is honestly amazing news. Chris is an absolute superstar at what he does and is a huge asset to the search.
Found Alive - HI - Amanda Eller, 35, Trail near Makawao, Maui, 8 May 2019 #2

 

[KatzEye]

Heard news today that Chris Berquist is on Kauai helping lead the search.

Elated to hear this news ! Chris, along with her father and brother were instrumental in finding Amanda. Here is a FB post from their organization with Samuel's MP poster, which shows his tent, backpack and sleeping bag :

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[Inthedetails]

Heard news today that Chris Berquist is on Kauai helping lead the search. For those who don't know, Chris was heavily involved with the search for Amanda Eller a few years ago and ultimately was one of the guys who found her after she was lost in the jungle for over two weeks. This is honestly amazing news. Chris is an absolute superstar at what he does and is a huge asset to the search.
Found Alive - HI - Amanda Eller, 35, Trail near Makawao, Maui, 8 May 2019 #2

That is good news. Hope is alive.

jmo

 

[Trackergd]

Some thoughts occurred to me today. Locals and Rangers would know any drop off's, scree fields, cliffs and other potential fall and slip areas. Those should also be checked very carefully with drones if necessary. Wonder if CAP can request a "training mission" from USAF with FLIR thermal camera technology to do some night overflights to look for a heat signature. Sometimes when individuals get lost, they go to a high spot and try to find a light source that they can walk towards and end up tumbling down a wash in thick brush.

 

[modesty blaise]

There was a young african american woman who went missing in HI sometime last year. I cant remember her name but there is a thread here. Was she ever found?