In the winter of 2018, Manuel Nolasco Duran, a 56-year-old resident of Honolulu, Hawaii, began what he intended to be an extraordinary journey. Known to his friends and family as Noli, he was preparing to visit his girlfriend and their daughter in the Philippines. He was last seen by a coworker on December 3, 2018, as he left his job to begin a vacation period, from which he was expected to return in January of the following year.
Duran, a man of Filipino descent, stood at 5 feet 3 inches and weighed around 140 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. When he was last seen, he was thought to be wearing either a gray long-sleeved shirt or a blue shirt with black pants.
Duran's plan for reaching the Philippines was unconventional and immensely challenging; he intended to make the 5,000-mile journey across the Pacific Ocean by kayak. He had told a coworker about his ambitious plan, estimating the trip would take approximately thirty days to complete. In preparation for this daunting voyage, he had purchased a variety of supplies. Reports indicate that the last communication from Duran was on December 7, 2018, when he apparently set sail from Honolulu. He embarked on his journey with a turquoise kayak, but he never arrived at his destination in the Philippines, and no one has reported hearing from him since he left.
The days and weeks following his expected arrival passed with no word, and concern for his well-being grew among his family and friends. As the search for answers began, it was discovered that not only were Duran and his kayak missing, but so was his vehicle, a gold 2005 Chevrolet Astro van with the Hawaiian license plate RRY 208. Despite efforts by the Honolulu Police Department, no trace of him, his kayak, or his van has been found. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance remain unclear, and he is considered to be lost at sea. The case of Manuel Duran is a deeply troubling one, centered on an ambitious and perilous plan to cross the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean alone in a kayak to reunite with his family, which tragically appears to have ended in his disappearance.Last Seen: Dec 3, 2018
