In the mid-afternoon of May 15, 2023, 85-year-old Francisco 'Frank' Pangelinan, a U.S. Army veteran, drove his blue Volvo SUV to a Home Depot in Kapolei, Hawaii. What began as a routine trip to a hardware store soon became the start of a prolonged and heart-wrenching mystery for his family and community. Surveillance footage captured Mr. Pangelinan entering the store from one entrance and later exiting through another, into the sprawling parking lot. It appears that upon exiting, he became disoriented and was unable to locate his vehicle. At the time of his disappearance, he was experiencing some forgetfulness and had been diagnosed with dementia. His family had taken precautions, placing a tracking device in his wallet, but he had unfortunately removed it and left it inside his car that day.
After failing to find his car, security cameras tracked Mr. Pangelinan's movements as he walked across Kapolei Parkway and through the parking lot of the adjacent Costco. From there, he was seen crossing Kalaeloa Boulevard, heading in the direction of the Honolulu Star-Advertiser building. This was the last confirmed sighting of him on video. He was last seen wearing a distinctive teal t-shirt with a wave pattern, khaki shorts, black slippers, and a dark-colored camouflage baseball cap. He also wore a black Nike sports watch, a gold wedding band, and black-framed prescription glasses. An Aloha United Way lanyard holding the key to his car and his house keys hung around his neck. His family and friends, deeply concerned for his safety and well-being, initiated a desperate search.
The days turned into weeks, and then years, with no sign of the missing elderly veteran. His family described him as being physically fit for his age, capable of walking for miles at a time. A possible but unconfirmed sighting was reported at 7:00 a.m. the day after he vanished, in the vicinity of Renton Road and Kapolei Parkway, but this lead did not result in his discovery. The Honolulu Police Department is investigating his disappearance, and the case remains unsolved. The community has been asked to remain vigilant, and businesses in the area have been requested to review their surveillance footage in the hopes of finding a clue that could lead to his whereabouts. The disappearance of Francisco Pangelinan is a somber reminder of the challenges faced by individuals with dementia and the enduring pain of their loved ones who are left with unanswered questions.
Last Seen: May 15, 2023
