In the quiet, rural community of Kalapana on the Big Island of Hawaii, the disappearance of 71-year-old Hank Roberts Sr. in the spring of 2004 left a void filled with unanswered questions. At the time, Roberts was residing with his daughter in the Puna Palisades subdivision. The day he was last seen, March 18, 2004, was marked by a domestic disturbance.
Neighbors reported a dispute between Roberts and his daughter, which prompted a police visit to their home between 10:00 and 10:30 in the morning. However, no arrests were made following the incident. Later that same afternoon, at approximately 4:30 p.m., a neighbor saw Roberts standing alone at the entrance of their subdivision. That was the last known sighting of him. His car was left behind at his residence, an unusual detail for a man known to be a creature of habit who drove into the nearby Pahoa Village daily.
An extensive search of the area surrounding his home, including the use of canine units, yielded no clues as to his whereabouts. Roberts was described as a Caucasian male, 5'8' tall, weighing about 160 pounds, with graying hair and blue eyes. Before moving to the Big Island, he had been a resident of Maui, where he owned a business in the Paia area and was a familiar face in the communities of Paia, Haiku, and Makawao during the late 1970s and early 1990s. He was also known to have previously lived in Miami Beach, Florida, and had family in both Florida and Hawaii. An active and vocal member of his community, Roberts frequently wrote letters to the editor of the Hawaii Tribune-Herald and was known for speaking his mind at City Council meetings on issues he was passionate about, such as his opposition to smoking bans and marijuana eradication efforts, which he viewed as an infringement on civil liberties.
The mysterious circumstances surrounding his disappearance have led to a range of theories, though none have been substantiated. His family firmly believes he was a victim of foul play, citing his predictable nature and the unlikelihood of him leaving without a word to anyone. Law enforcement officials have acknowledged that they cannot rule out foul play or suicide, though they have stated that they consider foul play to be an unlikely scenario. With no further leads or evidence, the investigation has grown cold over the years. The case of Hank Roberts Sr. remains an unsolved and troubling mystery for the Kalapana community, a story of a man who was an active and outspoken resident one day, and inexplicably gone the next. The lack of resolution has left his family and friends with a lingering sense of uncertainty and a deep concern for his welfare.Last Seen: Mar 18, 2004
