EWA BEACH, Hawaii (KHON2) — More than one year has passed since a missing kupuna was last seen on surveillance video in Kapolei.
His daughter said the last 12 months have been filled with sadness and fear, but she hopes new legislation will mean other families will not have to suffer as well.
Wednesday, May 15 marked one year since now-86-year-old Frank Pangelinan went missing. Police said the case remains open even though much time has gone by, which has left his daughter without a sense of closure.
“We wake up every day and hope that this is the day that he comes home or we have some news, but it’s just so difficult. We’ve just been taking it day-by-day,” said Frank’s daughter, Patricia. “We don’t want to believe that he’s no longer here, so until we have evidence we just want to keep praying and hoping for a miracle.”
Police organized searches in the weeks after Frank’s disappearance and hundreds of people reached out to Patricia through social media to ask how they can help. Time has marched on and Patricia said she does not want people to leave him behind.
“I just don’t want people to forget him,” Patricia said. “Just please don’t give up and don’t let his case go cold.”
Patricia said Frank had wandered before his disappearance in May 2023 and they had even put a tracking device in his wallet which had apparently been taken out and was found in Frank’s car.
Experts said having a crucial conversation with loved ones who exhibit signs of dementia starts with finding a common goal.
“So yes, focus on them, ‘We want to keep you well,’” said The Queen’s Medical System Geriatrics Department division chief Dr. Gina Fujikami, “or if that doesn’t work, try to focus on others. ‘Well, we want to make sure others are safe and we don’t want you to ever be responsible for harming them, even if it’s unintentionally.”
Dr. Fujikami said the passage of the Silver Alert bill — legislation to create a similar system to the Maile/Amber alerts that are sent out when a child goes missing and is in danger — is huge for Hawaii.
“It will speed up the reaction time by our community, by our law enforcement to try to find the loved one who is missing because time is of the essence,” Dr. Fujikami said.
The Silver Alert bill is Patricia’s silver lining.
“In the future, people in similar situations may be able to find their missing loved ones very quickly and they won’t have to go through what we’ve gone through the past year,” Patricia said.
The Silver Alert bill is currently awaiting Gov. Josh Green’s signature. Honolulu police said there are no leads in Frank’s case but action can still be taken if new information comes in.
For more information, visit the Crimestoppers website.