In the spring of 2008, concern began to mount for a 75-year-old Hawaii Kai man named Roque Rivera. His disappearance was brought to light when a close friend, with whom he had a standing weekly appointment to go hiking, was unable to reach him. For the previous 12 years, the two had met every Monday to hike various trails across Oahu, and it was highly uncharacteristic for Rivera to be out of touch. The friend's growing unease prompted him to alert Rivera's son, who then traveled to Honolulu from San Francisco to aid in the search for his father and to coordinate with local authorities.
The last known sighting of Roque Rivera was on Easter Sunday, near the Dole Cannery. His vehicle, a Ford Explorer, was discovered in the vicinity, offering a starting point for the search, but no further clues as to his direction of travel. At the time he went missing, Rivera was described as being 5-foot-7 and weighing 165 pounds. He was reportedly wearing a blue baseball cap with a United Airlines logo, a blue shirt with white stripes, and blue jeans. The abrupt nature of his disappearance left his family and friends deeply worried, as they began to explore every possibility.
The search for Rivera was extensive, with his son and friends checking beaches, homeless shelters, and his church. His son expressed a fear that his father might be living as a homeless person, and also raised the possibility of an undiagnosed medical condition like Alzheimer's, although no such diagnosis had ever been made. The Honolulu Police Department was involved in the investigation, and the public's help was sought to locate the missing senior. The case of Roque Rivera became one of several instances of elderly individuals going missing in the area at the time, highlighting the vulnerabilities of this demographic. His disappearance remains an unresolved case, a source of enduring uncertainty and sorrow for his loved ones who continue to hope for answers.
Last Seen: Mar 17, 2008
