Six months after a national search for Hannah Kobayashi ended with her safe return — and her father’s tragic death — the 31-year-old has broken her silence, reflecting on loss, pain, and the swirling chaos that surrounded her disappearance.
The aspiring photographer from Hawaii, who vanished last November while en route to New York City, resurfaced weeks later after reportedly traveling voluntarily into Mexico. .
Her disappearance set off a frantic, emotional search spearheaded by her family and loved ones – including her father, Ryan Kobayashi, who ultimately took his own life near Los Angeles International Airport amid the search.
Now, Hannah is finally speaking out — via Instagram.
“Such Loss and Pain and Suffering”
In a fleeting Instagram Stories video, Hannah opened up about her grief. “Every day is such a gift, especially after such loss and pain and suffering. We should all learn to be kind to one another,” she said.
She also thanked “every single person who dedicated time and energy into looking for me,” calling the support overwhelming. “It means the world to me,” she said. “Thank you so much… from the bottom of my heart.”
Hannah didn’t directly mention her father in the video, but the context was unmistakable.
A Father’s Desperate Search Ends in Tragedy
Hannah was last seen on November 8, 2024, captured on surveillance exiting LAX airport during a layover from Maui.
She never made her connecting flight.
Her disappearance sparked national headlines, and her father, 58-year-old Ryan Kobayashi, flew to Los Angeles to search for her.
Just over two weeks later, on November 24, he was found dead in a parking structure near LAX. The cause: multiple blunt force traumatic injuries. The manner of death: suicide, according to the County of Los Angeles Medical Examiner.
Prior to his death, the concerned father spoke about the search with Inside Edition reporters, expressing his heartbreak over his missing daughter.
“I’m really just twisting and turning for the last week about what’s going on,” he said. “It just seems like everything’s coming at a blur and it’s just so overwhelming at times, I wouldn’t wish it on anybody.”
Watch the interview below:
“I Know My Truth”
On May 4, Hannah returned to Instagram with a cryptic post: a black and white photo of trees and a poetic caption about resilience.
“For all that i have yet to say, the love in my heart remains the same, for every being that exists and those to come…” she wrote.
She continued: “To go deep within and bear witness to your unwaivering resilience is a true remembrance. more powerful than you could ever imagine. rise up against tyranny, rise up against hate. Overcome fear~and nothing will ever stop you from becoming that in which you are destined.”
In the comment section, when confronted about skipping her father’s funeral, Hannah pushed back.
“You don’t know the whole story. my intention in this post is to acknowledge that I am going to speak about my experience — and to stand up against all the hate that was cast upon me,” she said. “I hope that in your darkest hours, you are shown compassion and love versus hate and judgment.”
She doubled down in a May 19 statement to SFGate: “Given my particular situation on the other side of my experience, I understand how some people would choose to cast me in a negative light, but I know who I am, I know my truth and one day, I will share it.”
“I do believe that we can all learn to be kinder to one another because we never really know what someone else has been through unless we’ve walked in their shoes,” she added.
A Disappearance Shrouded in Drama
Behind Hannah’s disappearance was a web of tangled relationships, alleged immigration schemes, and deeply personal turmoil.
She had reportedly traveled with her ex-boyfriend Amun Miranda and her allaged green card husband, Argentinn native alan cacace, in what coworkers described as a planned marriage-for-visa deal. The love triangle — or more accurately, love square — included Cacace’s girlfriend, Marianne, who was also Miranda’s supposed Green Card wife.
Desiree, Hannah’s coworker at the Maui smoke shop Up ‘N Smoke, told Daily mail.com that Hannah was open about the arrangement: “There was no secret,” she said. “She told us about her plans.”
Still, Hannah’s behavior took a turn. She texted cryptic messages to friends and family , claiming she had undergone a “spiritual awakening,” and had been “tricked pretty much into giving away all my funds for someone I thought I love.”
Miranda, who had dated Hannah for two years before they broke up in August 2024, texted coworkers saying it wasn’t his job to watch over her. “She’s an adult and I’d heard she’d also possibly had plans in Cali,” he said.
“I have no reason to get off a plane and miss time on my own trip for something I thought was as simple as just missing one flight and catching the next available one,” he continued.
However, despite the swirling theories, the exact circumstances of Kobayashi’s disappearance have yet to be confirmed.
LAPD Closes the Case, Family Breathes a Sigh of Relief
Eventually, LAPD closed the case after surveillance footage showed Hannah walking across the border into Mexico. Authorities confirmed she spoke with Customs and Border Protection agents and “did not appear to be under any distress.”
Once her family made contact with her, they issued a statement via attorney: “We are incredibly relieved and grateful that Hannah has been found safe. This past month has been an unimaginable ordeal for our family, and we kindly ask for privacy as we take the time to heal and process everything we have been through.”
Hannah, through her aunt Larie Pidgeon, also released a statement : “My focus now is on my healing, my peace and my creativity. I am deeply grateful to my family and everyone who has shown me kindness and compassion during this time.”
“I was unaware of everything that was happening in the media while I was away, and I am still processing it all. I kindly ask for respect for myself, my family, and my loved ones as I navigate through this challenging time. Thank you for your understanding.”
