In the late evening hours of January 31, 2000, in the community of Paukaa, Hawaii, 90-year-old Masaki Sonomura was seen for the last time. He was inside his home in the 80 block of Kukaki Street at approximately 11:30 p.m. At the time, he was reportedly wearing an oversized green t-shirt. His family described him as being in good mental health, though he required daily medication for high blood pressure and high cholesterol. He was also taking a course of antibiotics for an unspecified reason.
His loved ones had no indication that anything was amiss or that he was in any distress, making what happened next all the more bewildering for them.
By 6:40 a.m. the following morning, it was clear that something was wrong, and Sonomura's family reported him missing. The response from authorities was immediate, with both police and fire rescue units launching an extensive air and ground search of the area surrounding his residence and the rugged Paukaa terrain. Despite these thorough efforts, no trace of Sonomura nor any evidence related to his whereabouts could be found. The complete lack of clues left both his family and investigators struggling for answers, as the patriarch of the family and a prominent local businessman had vanished without a sound.
Masaki Sonomura was a well-known figure in the Hilo community as the founder and chairman of the M. Sonomura Contracting Company Inc. His sudden and unexplained disappearance sent a ripple of concern through the town. Decades have passed since he was last seen in his home, yet his case remains cold and unsolved. The overview of this case is one of profound mystery; a 90-year-old man, who was in good spirits and health for his age, disappeared from the security of his own house during the night, leaving behind a loving family and a community with unanswered questions that linger to this day.Last Seen: Jan 31, 2000
