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

[5W's]

I’m not an experienced hiker, but wouldn’t it make sense to have a lightweight ‘daypack’ that you just stuff into your full ‘backpack?’ That way, if you’re making a loop for the day, you can carry food & sunscreen & water filter without having to carry everything with you

I did read somewhere that he had a daypack. Yes the daypack could have been used for the purposes you mentioned. I was under the assumption that it was that it was just a daypack, at one time. But what was found was a backpack. Well, as I said before if we consider that he put his backpack in that bush and took the daypack then we would also have to consider why he would dismantle his campsite where he left from and place his backpack in the bush and then walk all the way back for it. IMO that doesn't make sense. So I don't see Samuel putting it there because he had dismantled his his campsite to travel to another location (IIRC i read this somewhere that he was moving on.)

 

[5W's]

I’m not an experienced hiker, but wouldn’t it make sense to have a lightweight ‘daypack’ that you just stuff into your full ‘backpack?’ That way, if you’re making a loop for the day, you can carry food & sunscreen & water filter without having to carry everything with you

I did read somewhere that he had a daypack. Yes the daypack could have been used for the purposes you mentioned. I was under the assumption it was that it was just a daypack at one time. But what was found was a backpack. Well, as I said before if we consider that he put his backpack in that bush and took the daypack then we would also have to consider why he would dismantle his campsite where he left from and place the backpack in the bush and then walk all the way back for it. IMO that doesn't make sense. So I don't see Samuel putting it there because he had dismantled his campsite to travel to another location (IIRC i read this somewhere that he was moving on.) I suppose the report of a daypack could mean he had both but it just specified daypack, but that doesnt take away from the fact that he would have to walk back so in a way its not relevant.

 

[5W's]

We know that Samuel took down his campsite to move on as it was reported in various articles in the media so that's what I'm basing my opinion on. If he hadn't taken his campsite down then he wouldn't be going far and may have been exploring the area so which would mean he would come back. Then he could possibly put his backpack in the bush. But he took his campsit down moving on.

 

[j_in_c]

I did read somewhere that he had a daypack. Yes the daypack could have been used for the purposes you mentioned. I was under the assumption it was that it was just a daypack at one time. But what was found was a backpack. Well, as I said before if we consider that he put his backpack in that bush and took the daypack then we would also have to consider why he would dismantle his campsite where he left from and place the backpack in the bush and then walk all the way back for it. IMO that doesn't make sense. So I don't see Samuel putting it there because he had dismantled his campsite to travel to another location (IIRC i read this somewhere that he was moving on.) I suppose the report of a daypack could mean he had both but it just specified daypack, but that doesnt take away from the fact that he would have to walk back so in a way its not relevant.

I have done a lot of backpacking (sadly never in Hawaii) but it is also possible to plan to trek from campsite A to campsite B with a planned sidetrip to peak/waterfall/etc C that you do not wish to carry a full pack to visit. I have hiked in Hawaii and there is a lot of slippery and/or steep terrain which could lead you to set down a fully packed pack in order to be more nimble to go see something. Or you could need to use a bathroom, or wander off to a stream for bathing and end up wandering further than you thought, or get disoriented, and never make it back to your pack as planned. There are tons of non-nefarious, misadventure scenarios that I can see having occurred.

 

[hibachai]

I have done a lot of backpacking (sadly never in Hawaii) but it is also possible to plan to trek from campsite A to campsite B with a planned sidetrip to peak/waterfall/etc C that you do not wish to carry a full pack to visit. I have hiked in Hawaii and there is a lot of slippery and/or steep terrain which could lead you to set down a fully packed pack in order to be more nimble to go see something. Or you could need to use a bathroom, or wander off to a stream for bathing and end up wandering further than you thought, or get disoriented, and never make it back to your pack as planned. There are tons of non-nefarious, misadventure scenarios that I can see having occurred.

I think either is definitely possible. IMO, though, it seems like something non-nefarious, especially considering Sam didn't know the area much, if at all - unfortunately, hiking accidents resulting in dealth aren't uncommon.

 

[DeDee]

I've always been puzzled by the selection of this particular island, The Garden Island. It is a lush jungle on the interior. Philodendron leaves are larger than the tires on a Bronco. Steep cliffs and clouds can cover areas at that elevation (4000') of Kokee State Park which can feel quite spooky. The trails can hold unforeseen treachery. It rains an inch nearly every day. Wet hiking boots are most uncomfortable to wear.

The backpack left behind in the bushes, "contained most all he belongings, except for what he would have taken, on a short day hike."
Do the belongings include his phone, wallet, cash, tent?
What does a short hike mean to them?
Did he carry a walking stick?
Did he have clean drinking water? Energy bars?
How do they know the backpack was left during the daytime so Samuel could take a short day hike?

SM was a brilliant student of microbiology. In 2019, he was awarded a stipend for the University's summer intensive research:
"Samuel Martinez, microbiology, “Generation of Antibody Against Glycoprotein-3 of the Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus."
67 undergraduate CAS students earn funding for summer research | College of Arts and Sciences

SM made the Dean's List in that same year, 2019
Deans List Fall 2019 | College of Arts and Sciences

(I was unable to find any education for SM past 2019 but it's late and I'm tired.)

Thinking of Samuel's family and friends on this Easter Weekend. May God's Peace be with them.
.

 

[5W's]

I have done a lot of backpacking (sadly never in Hawaii) but it is also possible to plan to trek from campsite A to campsite B with a planned sidetrip to peak/waterfall/etc C that you do not wish to carry a full pack to visit. I have hiked in Hawaii and there is a lot of slippery and/or steep terrain which could lead you to set down a fully packed pack in order to be more nimble to go see something. Or you could need to use a bathroom, or wander off to a stream for bathing and end up wandering further than you thought, or get disoriented, and never make it back to your pack as planned. There are tons of non-nefarious, misadventure scenarios that I can see having occurred.

I realize your point and I mentioned it before in a response but he would have to backtrack so I don't see that happening. If it wasn't in the area he had setup camp originally and then dismatled it to move on then I would say yes its possible Samuel put it in the bush. But its not so that's why I think something else may have happened. Especially because the backpack had valuable or key equipment to help him survive (I am assuming because his sleepingbag was inside.) I wouldn't be surprised if one day those close to him divulge what the contents were in the backpack that it would have his tent and water filter in it and of course they are key elements to help one in the elements. Maybe one day we will know. But all we can do is speculate now.

 

[5W's]

I've always been puzzled by the selection of this particular island, The Garden Island. It is a lush jungle on the interior. Philodendron leaves are larger than the tires on a Bronco. Steep cliffs and clouds can cover areas at that elevation (4000') of Kokee State Park which can feel quite spooky. The trails can hold unforeseen treachery. It rains an inch nearly every day. Wet hiking boots are most uncomfortable to wear.

The backpack left behind in the bushes, "contained most all he belongings, except for what he would have taken, on a short day hike."
Do the belongings include his phone, wallet, cash, tent?
What does a short hike mean to them?
Did he carry a walking stick?
Did he have clean drinking water? Energy bars?
How do they know the backpack was left during the daytime so Samuel could take a short day hike?

SM was a brilliant student of microbiology. In 2019, he was awarded a stipend for the University's summer intensive research:
"Samuel Martinez, microbiology, “Generation of Antibody Against Glycoprotein-3 of the Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus."
67 undergraduate CAS students earn funding for summer research | College of Arts and Sciences

SM made the Dean's List in that same year, 2019
Deans List Fall 2019 | College of Arts and Sciences

(I was unable to find any education for SM past 2019 but it's late and I'm tired.)

Thinking of Samuel's family and friends on this Easter Weekend. May God's Peace be with them.
.

What confuses me is if it was a short hike how did they come to that conclusion. I realize his sleeping bag was found in it but if it was truly a short hike then was he intending to set up a new camp and move on to a new location? I mean it looks to me that it is being said that he was moving on and leaving his last location. Then why not take your belongings to the new location. If he didn't trust his stuff being at the old location then why hide it and not keep it with you? Yes I realize some campers do hide thier belongings. But I'm sure it wouldn't be near the location that they left from and would be coming back to. So I see this difference as a complication in Samuel's instance.

 

[DeDee]

What confuses me is if it was a short hike how did they come to that conclusion. I realize his sleeping bag was found in it but if it was truly a short hike then was he intending to set up a new camp and move on to a new location? I mean it looks to me that it is being said that he was moving on and leaving his last location. Then why not take your belongings to the new location. If he didn't trust his stuff being at the old location then why hide it and not keep it with you? Yes I realize some campers do hide thier belongings. But I'm sure it wouldn't be near the location that they left from and would be coming back to. So I see this difference as a complication in Samuel's instance.

The victim was not well-qualified, due to inexperience, for hiking these unreliable trails in the manner in which his itinerary lists. Few, if any, tourists would venture away from the campgrounds alone. It is like scuba diving in that regard as the rule is to always have a buddy along. It bugs me that he traveled to such a paradise-like place alone. It's the Garden Island. The sights he'd see bring grown men to their knees.

I thought, due to SMs educational background, he may have been interested in the flora but his parents never once mention that as a possibility. I am not one who haunts FB so I don't know if he has had a FB page in which to search for clues.

We are two days away from a one year anniversary of Samuel going missing. Makes me sad.

 

[5W's]

The victim was not well-qualified, due to inexperience, for hiking these unreliable trails in the manner in which his itinerary lists. Few, if any, tourists would venture away from the campgrounds alone. It is like scuba diving in that regard as the rule is to always have a buddy along. It bugs me that he traveled to such a paradise-like place alone. It's the Garden Island. The sights he'd see bring grown men to their knees.

I thought, due to SMs educational background, he may have been interested in the flora but his parents never once mention that as a possibility. I am not one who haunts FB so I don't know if he has had a FB page in which to search for clues.

We are two days away from a one year anniversary of Samuel going missing. Makes me sad.

I agree with you on all accounts about tourist misadventure and Samuel's background being interested in the flora. But my concern is that he would have spoken to other campers who would have told him how trecherous the trails and walking paths can be (maybe steep) as well as the slickness due to the rain. So he had to be aware I thought the first camp he set up at he would have mingled and made friends who would have told him these things. Yes the one year mark is here, sadly.

 

[DeDee]

I do not think SM held any concerns about the area where he was. He planned this trip. He was not fearful of harmful criminals, the few mosquitoes, pesky zebras, boa constrictors or the Brahminy blind snakes, or the poisonous Asian spiny-backed spiders.

Facts as I remember them to be are that
SM landed safely at Lihue Airport on Kauai without a traveling companion.
He hitched a ride from the airport to the market on the S end of the island.
SM arrived at the first camp on his list at Kokee Park and checked in.
We believe he left camp the next morning.
After that, we know nothing about what he did.
Later, his hidden backpack is discovered in the bushes near the campground church.

We have zero proof he ever hiked a trail. Is it possible SM had another motive for traveling to Kauai?

 

[Hoosier952]

The backpack left behind in the bushes, "contained most all he belongings, except for what he would have taken, on a short day hike."
Do the belongings include his phone, wallet, cash, tent?
What does a short hike mean to them?
Did he carry a walking stick?
Did he have clean drinking water? Energy bars?
How do they know the backpack was left during the daytime so Samuel could take a short day hike?

Snipped- When I stash my pack and only take my daypack, it's basically water bottle, a water filter + squeeze bag for untreated water, a couple snacks, a small first aid kit with an emergency blanket that can double as a tarp tent, a small fire starting kit, and my wallet in which I only bring a couple of credit cards and my license.


A short hike to me means a hike that could be done without the need for overnight supplies.

I would imagine Samuel would have taken trekking poles with him due to all of the elevation changes and wet, slick surfaces one would expect in that climate.

I would also assume he would have taken off with some clean drinking water and a way to filter more. How much pre-filtered water he would have carried would be based on how long he expected to travel before the next water source and how frequently he expected to find water sources, the temperature and humidity, and the difficulty of the hike. I would imagine he would have had some sort of snacks with him as well.


I don't know if anyone could truly know the backpack was left during the daytime, but it can be safely assumed if his tent and sleeping bag were left behind but other items were missing, he wasn't planning on being gone overnight and voluntarily left the pack behind. If someone ditched it, I would expect to see all his gear left behind or none at all because that stuff is expensive, even secondhand. Due to the location where his pack was found, and the trails in that general area, I think it's a pretty safe assumption to believe he stashed his pack planning on taking 1 or more short trails during the day and coming back to retrieve his pack before hiking to wherever he was planning on camping that night or even returning earlier to eat a meal before taking off again.

Stashing packs is obviously a risk, but it's a fairly common occurrence.

 

[5W's]

Snipped- When I stash my pack and only take my daypack, it's basically water bottle, a water filter + squeeze bag for untreated water, a couple snacks, a small first aid kit with an emergency blanket that can double as a tarp tent, a small fire starting kit, and my wallet in which I only bring a couple of credit cards and my license.


A short hike to me means a hike that could be done without the need for overnight supplies.

I would imagine Samuel would have taken trekking poles with him due to all of the elevation changes and wet, slick surfaces one would expect in that climate.

I would also assume he would have taken off with some clean drinking water and a way to filter more. How much pre-filtered water he would have carried would be based on how long he expected to travel before the next water source and how frequently he expected to find water sources, the temperature and humidity, and the difficulty of the hike. I would imagine he would have had some sort of snacks with him as well.


I don't know if anyone could truly know the backpack was left during the daytime, but it can be safely assumed if his tent and sleeping bag were left behind but other items were missing, he wasn't planning on being gone overnight and voluntarily left the pack behind. If someone ditched it, I would expect to see all his gear left behind or none at all because that stuff is expensive, even secondhand. Due to the location where his pack was found, and the trails in that general area, I think it's a pretty safe assumption to believe he stashed his pack planning on taking 1 or more short trails during the day and coming back to retrieve his pack before hiking to wherever he was planning on camping that night or even returning earlier to eat a meal before taking off again.

Stashing packs is obviously a risk, but it's a fairly common occurrence.

I was under the assumption that Samuel was moving on to a new camp, that's why I thought he would have taken it with him instead of backtracking.

 

[Hoosier952]

I was under the assumption that Samuel was moving on to a new camp, that's why I thought he would have taken it with him instead of backtracking.

According to his itinerary, he didn't have a camp scheduled for that night. Whether it was a mistake in jotting down his schedule or a mistake in planning/reservation availability, I don't know.

I believe his pack was found right at the beginning of Camp 10 Rd. I have updated the map to include the road highlighted as well as a very general area of where the backpack was found. I don't know how far down or off the road it was found. Camp 10 is directly across the road from the Kokee Campground where Samuel was camping the night prior. If you look at Alltrails maps, you will see plenty of short trails in that general vicinity.

His next listed camp on his schedule was Waiakoali Camp, maybe 3.5-4 miles from where his bag was left and directly off of Camp 10.
Since it would have been a short and easy hike down the road, taking maybe an hour or two at best, and he had plans to stay off of Camp 10 at two camps back to back, I doubt he'd want to head directly in that direction since he would have had several days to hike near camps. Dropping off the backpack near the beginning of Camp 10 makes perfect sense to me since he would be walking right by it to head to camp. My gut says he headed south towards Waimea Canyon Trail and the Wiapoo Falls and the trails in that area. Reading reviews on AllTrails, I suspect he ran into trouble at a water crossing or any of the slick areas around steep drop offs.

 

[5W's]

According to his itinerary, he didn't have a camp scheduled for that night. Whether it was a mistake in jotting down his schedule or a mistake in planning/reservation availability, I don't know.

I believe his pack was found right at the beginning of Camp 10 Rd. I have updated the map to include the road highlighted as well as a very general area of where the backpack was found. I don't know how far down or off the road it was found. Camp 10 is directly across the road from the Kokee Campground where Samuel was camping the night prior. If you look at Alltrails maps, you will see plenty of short trails in that general vicinity.

His next listed camp on his schedule was Waiakoali Camp, maybe 3.5-4 miles from where his bag was left and directly off of Camp 10.
Since it would have been a short and easy hike down the road, taking maybe an hour or two at best, and he had plans to stay off of Camp 10 at two camps back to back, I doubt he'd want to head directly in that direction since he would have had several days to hike near camps. Dropping off the backpack near the beginning of Camp 10 makes perfect sense to me since he would be walking right by it to head to camp. My gut says he headed south towards Waimea Canyon Trail and the Wiapoo Falls and the trails in that area. Reading reviews on AllTrails, I suspect he ran into trouble at a water crossing or any of the slick areas around steep drop offs.

So are you saying that perhaps there was no backtracking. I haven't heard any reports that he had or had not dismantled his camp. So really its hard to say. If hed dismanteled it then I would think he would want to set up at the next location. But, if not then it's anyone's guess. One would think if he was staying then he wouldn't have put all his belongings in the pack and some would remain at his setup camp.

 

[Hoosier952]

So are you saying that perhaps there was no backtracking. I haven't heard any reports that he had or had not dismantled his camp. So really its hard to say. If hed dismanteled it then I would think he would want to set up at the next location. But, if not then it's anyone's guess. One would think if he was staying then he wouldn't have put all his belongings in the pack and some would remain at his setup camp.

Yes, I don't think he backtracked at all. I think he packed up everything at Kokee that morning, walked across the street to stash his main pack, and then walked/hiked south with a daypack. South is just my gut feeling based on his itinerary and the trails/sights in that direction. But he could have headed in any direction but towards camp IMO. It wouldn't make sense to hike 4 miles down Camp 10 to drop off his pack/set up camp, hike back 4 miles to where he started and then head whichever direction he was planning, and then again hike the 4 miles back to camp for the night. That's as much as 6 hours lost and wouldn't leave a lot of daylight hours for hiking that day.

But again, there's the problem of no known campsite the night of the 13th which makes it incredibly hard to guess where he may have needed to go that evening. I think it's safe to assume he wasn't planning on a second night at Kokee since he packed up everything. I think he would have left camp set up if he was staying a second night since most of the other camps have multi-night reservations.

Since there's no detailed itinerary for his daytime plans and I don't know the type of hiker Samuel was, it's all a giant guessing game.

 

[Sleuth2u]

I wonder if he stashed his gear not to take a day hike without it, but to take a break from hiking. Maybe to get a ride to town to go to a store or do something.

 

[5W's]

Yes, I don't think he backtracked at all. I think he packed up everything at Kokee that morning, walked across the street to stash his main pack, and then walked/hiked south with a daypack. South is just my gut feeling based on his itinerary and the trails/sights in that direction. But he could have headed in any direction but towards camp IMO. It wouldn't make sense to hike 4 miles down Camp 10 to drop off his pack/set up camp, hike back 4 miles to where he started and then head whichever direction he was planning, and then again hike the 4 miles back to camp for the night. That's as much as 6 hours lost and wouldn't leave a lot of daylight hours for hiking that day.

But again, there's the problem of no known campsite the night of the 13th which makes it incredibly hard to guess where he may have needed to go that evening. I think it's safe to assume he wasn't planning on a second night at Kokee since he packed up everything. I think he would have left camp set up if he was staying a second night since most of the other camps have multi-night reservations.

Since there's no detailed itinerary for his daytime plans and I don't know the type of hiker Samuel was, it's all a giant guessing game.

Yes, its hard to say. Well, then another comes to my mind is that if he wasn't going to stay in Kokee where was he going, and when did he leave? If we possibly know when he left then at least we could assume an idea of what his intentions were possibly IMO.

 

[Hoosier952]

Yes, its hard to say. Well, then another comes to my mind is that if he wasn't going to stay in Kokee where was he going, and when did he leave? If we possibly know when he left then at least we could assume an idea of what his intentions were possibly IMO.

I think that's the entire issue with this case. No one knows where he was supposed to be going that day and no one seems to know what he was planning on doing any of the days at least as far as I've heard. LE may have more information received from his family, friends, or anyone he spoke to while he was there.
Check out time on a departure date for Kokee campground is noon, so he likely would have at least packed up camp prior to noon, but no idea when he actually left Kokee.

Another post I hadn't seen or don't remember was the FB page for Samuel that mentions on July 20, 2021 that Samuel was spotted in the rain on May 14th near one of the lookouts at the rim of the Kalalau Valley and Samuel had checked in and out of his reserved campsites up to this point on his trip, and seemed to be safely following his itinerary until then.

Does the family have a more detailed itinerary or confirmation of his 13th reservation that I haven't seen? That sighting and the post from family would seem to suggest there was a reservation somewhere the night of the 13th for Samuel to have checked in and out of. I wonder if there was a misprint on the schedule and he was indeed supposed to stay at Kokee the 13th as well.

There's also two different spots where I've seen his backpack was found. At the start of Camp 10 (Mohini) Road as well as near the church camp (which as far as I can tell is Camp Sloggett). Mohini/Camp 10 runs directly into Kokee Rd/550. But Kumuela Road connects to Mohini/Camp 10 closer to Sloggett. Maybe they are both one in the same. I'm adding a second black pin near that intersection as well. Locations are close to one another so it likely doesn't matter.
If it were me, I don't think I'd hike south towards Sloggett from Kokee to stash my pack to turn around and head north to hike near the valley. It's about a mile from Kokee campground to the lane that goes to the camp making for a 2 mile roundtrip and 30+ minutes of extra hiking when he could have just as easily stashed his pack somewhere in Kokee or farther north.

 

[5W's]

I think that's the entire issue with this case. No one knows where he was supposed to be going that day and no one seems to know what he was planning on doing any of the days at least as far as I've heard. LE may have more information received from his family, friends, or anyone he spoke to while he was there.
Check out time on a departure date for Kokee campground is noon, so he likely would have at least packed up camp prior to noon, but no idea when he actually left Kokee.

Another post I hadn't seen or don't remember was the FB page for Samuel that mentions on July 20, 2021 that Samuel was spotted in the rain on May 14th near one of the lookouts at the rim of the Kalalau Valley and Samuel had checked in and out of his reserved campsites up to this point on his trip, and seemed to be safely following his itinerary until then.

Does the family have a more detailed itinerary or confirmation of his 13th reservation that I haven't seen? That sighting and the post from family would seem to suggest there was a reservation somewhere the night of the 13th for Samuel to have checked in and out of. I wonder if there was a misprint on the schedule and he was indeed supposed to stay at Kokee the 13th as well.

There's also two different spots where I've seen his backpack was found. At the start of Camp 10 (Mohini) Road as well as near the church camp (which as far as I can tell is Camp Sloggett). Mohini/Camp 10 runs directly into Kokee Rd/550. But Kumuela Road connects to Mohini/Camp 10 closer to Sloggett. Maybe they are both one in the same. I'm adding a second black pin near that intersection as well. Locations are close to one another so it likely doesn't matter.
If it were me, I don't think I'd hike south towards Sloggett from Kokee to stash my pack to turn around and head north to hike near the valley. It's about a mile from Kokee campground to the lane that goes to the camp making for a 2 mile roundtrip and 30+ minutes of extra hiking when he could have just as easily stashed his pack somewhere in Kokee or farther north.

If checkout is noon in Kokee, he may have mingled around for a while with friends & then moved on. I would think he would keep in mind when sunset starts. I mean he was an experienced hiker so one would believe that Samuel would be keen to set up his next camp well before sunset.