Police K9 handler Officer Christopher Ross and his Labrador Trina located missing 70‑year‑old hiker David Arai in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on Oct. 19, following a 24‑hour search.
Arai had been hiking alone near the Kilauea volcano, a trail he frequented, and was reported missing just after noon. The officers classified him as endangered because of his age and the harsh terrain.
Officers recovered Arai's rental vehicle but not the man, prompting a helicopter sweep by the Hawaii Fire Department before enlisting Trina's tracking skills. Trina, a three‑year‑old Labrador retriever trained for human search, followed a faint scent trail to a spot two miles from the vehicle.
Ross noted the trail's difficult conditions, and when Trina reached Arai, she licked his hand, signaling the team that they had found him. Arai was transported to Hilo Benioff Medical Centre, treated for dehydration, and then reunited with his son.
Kaohe Arai said his father was deeply grateful to the K9 unit and that he would consider adopting Trina when she retires.
The incident underscores the vital role of K9 units in Hawaii's rugged wilderness, a fact the state police will likely highlight in upcoming training briefings.