In the spring of 2023, the community of Pāhoa on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi was faced with the unsettling disappearance of one of its own. Kelly Gravitt, a 34-year-old man known for his service to his country as a combat-wounded Army veteran and a recipient of the Purple Heart, vanished, leaving his family deeply concerned and searching for answers.
The exact date of his last known whereabouts is somewhat unclear, with reports indicating he was last seen sometime between May 12 and May 14, 2023, while other, more frequent reports state he was last seen on the evening of May 19, 2023. On that evening, Gravitt was reportedly seen walking in Pāhoa town, specifically in the vicinity of Pāhoa Village Road and Kauhale Street. At the time he went missing, he was wearing gray shorts and no shirt.
Kelly Gravitt is described as a Caucasian man, standing 6 feet tall and weighing around 180 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. He had a beard at the time he was last seen and has several distinct tattoos on his face and neck areas. His appearance is also marked by noticeable scars on his lower legs from previous injuries, and one account mentioned he has a prosthetic lower left leg. Gravitt was known to frequent several places in the Kalapana area, including the Sea View lawn, Kahena Beach, and the Uncle Roberts area, places familiar to those who knew his routines. His disappearance prompted an immediate response from his family, who remain profoundly worried about his well-being.
In the years since he was last seen, the search for answers has been extensive and relentless. Detectives with the Area I Criminal Investigation Section of the Hawaiʻi Island police have conducted a significant number of interviews and follow-up investigations, but his whereabouts remain unknown. The case has garnered the attention of federal authorities, with the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Honolulu Field Office assisting in the investigation. Law enforcement has repeatedly renewed public requests for any information, no matter how small, that might shed light on the circumstances surrounding Gravitt's disappearance. The case of Kelly Gravitt is an active and ongoing missing person investigation. A decorated veteran vanished from a small town, and despite a persistent investigation by local and federal law enforcement, the lack of answers has left his family desperate for closure.Last Seen: May 12, 2023
