Dustin Ernest Gabel, a passionate surfer at the age of 36, had recently come back to Hawaii from a surfing excursion in Asia. On October 25, 2005, just a day after his return, he drove his 1993 white Volkswagen van to Yokohama Bay in Waianae. A lifeguard on duty saw him arrive, take out his 9-foot white surfboard, and paddle out into the ocean toward Kaena Point at approximately 2:30 in the afternoon.
The conditions in the water were not considered dangerous at the time, with wave heights estimated to be between flat and one foot.
The following day, the same lifeguard noticed that Gabel's van was still parked in the same spot, which raised concern. Upon inspecting the vehicle, it was discovered to be unlocked with the key still in the ignition. All of his personal belongings remained inside the van, undisturbed. This unusual discovery prompted the initiation of a search for the missing surfer. The Honolulu Police Department was alerted, and an extensive three-day search of the area was conducted by first responders. The Coast Guard also joined the search efforts, utilizing a helicopter, a C-130 aircraft, and the Cutter Kiska to scan the waters of Yokohama Bay and extend the search up to 10 miles into the Kauai Channel, but no sign of Gabel or his surfboard was found.
Dustin Gabel was described as being 6 feet tall, weighing about 150 pounds, with blond hair and hazel eyes. He was last seen wearing brightly colored surf shorts. Originally from Denver, where he had sold a moped business, Gabel had moved to Hawaii in 2002 and worked as a loan officer. However, his love for surfing often took precedence, and he was known to take long trips, sometimes for a month or two at a time, to pursue his passion. He traveled so frequently that he had his mail forwarded to his office and lived with friends instead of maintaining his own residence. The overview of this case is that an avid and experienced surfer was last observed paddling out into the ocean. His vehicle and personal items were found untouched the next day, leading to a comprehensive search that unfortunately yielded no clues as to his whereabouts.Last Seen: Oct 25, 2005
