In the spring of 2022, a sense of happy anticipation was in the air for the Ingalls family, who were gathering in Oklahoma to celebrate a son's college graduation. His 23-year-old twin brother, Chase Ingalls, remained in Hawaii, planning to watch the ceremony via a livestream. An avid and experienced hiker who often sought solitude on the trails, Chase intended to hike the scenic Makapuʻu Point Lighthouse Trail in Honolulu on Friday, May 6, 2022.
This was the last day anyone heard from him. His family, aware of his hiking plans, grew deeply concerned when he failed to make his scheduled pickup of his mother from the airport on Sunday, May 8th. This uncharacteristic absence prompted them to report him missing, setting in motion a search for the young man.
The initial search yielded unsettling discoveries that deepened the mystery surrounding his whereabouts. Chase Ingalls' vehicle was located, locked and secure, in the parking lot at the trailhead of the Makapuʻu Point Lighthouse Trail. More troubling, a tourist had found his backpack at the top of the trail a day earlier, on Saturday, May 7th. Inside the backpack were several of his essential personal belongings, including his wallet, his laptop computer, and both his car and house keys. An empty water bottle was also found, but his cell phone was conspicuously absent. In response to these findings, an extensive and coordinated search effort was launched, involving the Honolulu Police and Fire Departments, Ocean Safety, and the U.S. Coast Guard, who scoured the rugged terrain and the surrounding waters.
Despite the comprehensive land and sea searches, no sign of Chase Ingalls was ever found. The search was eventually suspended, leaving a void of information and a family left to grapple with immense uncertainty. The discovery of his personal effects, neatly contained in his backpack, without any indication of a struggle or foul play, has puzzled investigators and loved ones alike. His disappearance from a popular and well-traveled hiking area remains an unsolved case, a poignant story of a young man who set out to enjoy the natural beauty of his island home and vanished without a trace. The case is a somber reminder of how quickly a day of recreation can turn into a lasting mystery, leaving a family searching for answers.Last Seen: May 7, 2022
