Sister shares update after speaking with Hannah Kobayashi by phone

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Sydni Kobayashi said her family is experiencing “mixed and overwhelming feelings of exhaustion, devastation, and betrayal” after her sister was found alive and safe.

On Nov. 8, Hannah Kobayashi caught a flight from Maui to Los Angeles with plans to go to New York City to visit her aunt, but she failed to get on the connecting flight.

Authorities later determined she intentionally missed the flight.

In a social media post, Sydni said she spoke with the 30-year-old by phone. She said Hannah was with their aunt, Larie Pidgeon.

Pidgeon separated herself from the family’s search last week and said she was traveling to Mexico to look for Hannah.

Sydni Kobayashi wrote, “At this time, my mother and I have not physically seen Hannah. We do not have actual proof of where she is, other than that she is somewhere in Mexico. We have only spoken to her over the phone, and she was allegedly found safe with Larie, but at this time, she does not wish to return to us.

“As you can imagine, we are all extremely relieved and glad that my sister is alive and seemingly okay, but we also have mixed and overwhelming feelings of exhaustion, devastation, and betrayal.”

The Kobayashi family grew increasingly concerned when they learned of bizarre text messages and unusual financial transactions before the 30-year-old vanished. Their plea for help triggered a massive search with sudden, tragic twists, including the death of her father, Ryan Kobayashi.

During the search, Sydni Kobayashi started a GoFundMe that totaled nearly $47,000. She said the donations helped pay, in part, for food and hydration for search teams, transportation, communication devices, a media campaign, temporary accommodations, and funeral expenses for their father.

The family stopped collecting donations Thursday. Any donor who would like a refund can submit a claim by Dec. 18.

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