Trio lauded for going above and beyond

LIHU‘E — Klayton Kubo, Eben Manini and Tim O’Rourke represented the numerous community volunteers and first responders in demonstrating the “courage, resolve, and altruism” during the trio’s volunteer search efforts to locate a missing Kaua‘i community member, stated a Kaua‘i County Council Certificate on Wednesday during the Committee as a Whole meeting at the historic County Building.

The certificate further wishes the family of the decedent peace and comfort in the days ahead.

According to the certificate, Aug. 6 was the last time Kapa‘a resident Dylan Wagner was seen. A few days later, his vehicle was found parked unattended on Kuamo‘o Road near the Keahua Arboretum, in the area commonly referred to as Loop Road.

Following the discovery of the vehicle, the Kaua‘i Police Department with assistance from the Kaua‘i Fire Department, Kaua‘i Search and Rescue, and Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement started search operations. The search operation was suspended on Aug. 10.

During the seach operations, the area around Kuamo‘o Road near Keahua Arboretum was restricted, and then later reopened to the public following the suspension of formal seach efforts.

Once public access was reopened following the formal search suspension, the determined trio of residents answered the call and continued search efforts in the Lihu‘e-Koloa Forest Reserve in Wailua.

Working together, the volunteer group located a deceased male at about 8:15 on Aug. 11.

Preliminary reports positively identified the individual as the missing community member, thereby bringing closure to the search process with what Kaua‘i County Council Chair Mel Rapozo described as a “special sendoff.”