Hannah Kobayashi’s sister shares heartbreaking tribute to father Ryan after his suicide
The sister of missing Hawaiian woman Hannah Kobayashi has paid a heartbreaking tribute to her father, who died by suicide on Sunday.
Ryan Kobayashi, 58, jumped to his death from a parking garage near LAX, one of the last known locations his 30-year-old daughter visited before she disappeared.
On Tuesday, his other daughter Sydni posted a tribute to him on Facebook, promising to continue the search for Hannah.
“You are with the angel daddy,” Sydni wrote.
‘I love you and miss you so much. I’ll continue to stay strong for you. We’re going to find Hannah.’
Sydni had previously shared the news of her father’s death on a GoFundMe for Hannah’s search, which is now also raising money for Ryan’s funeral.
“We are heartbroken to share that my father, Ryan Kobayashi, tragically passed away during the search for Hannah,” Sydni wrote.
“As we continue our search for Hannah, we are also faced with the unexpected costs of Ryan’s funeral. Donations now will both support the search for Hannah and honor Ryan’s memory.
The sister of missing Hawaiian woman Hannah Kobayashi has paid a heartbreaking tribute to her father, who died by suicide on Sunday
Hannah Kobayashi, 30, disappeared from the streets of downtown Los Angeles after missing a connecting flight from her native Maui, Hawaii en route to New York City
Her father, Ryan, was tragically found dead in Los Angeles after flying out to assist in the search
“My mother, Brandi, will handle the donations and help me coordinate the search and my father’s funeral.
The sisters’ mother, Brandi, has remained home in Hawaii as the search for Hannah continues in Los Angeles.
Hannah, an aspiring photographer, disappeared from the streets of downtown Los Angeles on November 8 after missing a connecting flight from her native Maui, Hawaii en route to New York City.
Ryan, who had been searching for his daughter for 13 days, was seen on Friday handing out flyers to passersby in Los Angeles, pleading for information that could help find his daughter.
DailyMail.com spoke to him as his family gathered to spread the word about the disappearance and encourage the public to report any sightings and information.
It remains unclear why Hannah left LA’s LAX airport and ventured into the city 15 miles away, but she sent a text to a friend saying she had had a “spiritual awakening,” and was later seen in the company of a mysterious man.
The trip started on Nov. 8 in Maui, which she described in a handwritten itinerary as a “bucket list dream come true.”
Hannah was on her way to visit another aunt in New York when she missed her connecting flight in LA.
Sydni, pictured, had previously shared news of her father’s death on a GoFundMe for Hannah’s search, which is now also raising money for Ryan’s funeral
This is the last known image of her leaving LAX after missing her connecting flight to New York to visit family
On Thursday, frantic friends and family, including her devastated father Ryan Kobayashi (pictured), gathered in downtown LA, a block from where she was last seen, to spread the message and encourage the public to all observations and information they have to report.
Family members and a friend received a series of cryptic text messages from Hannah’s phone, leading them to fear she may have been kidnapped or trafficked.
On November 9, Hannah reportedly went to a bookstore before returning to LAX that evening. She told an aunt that trying to get another flight to New York turned out to be a “nightmare,” but she still tried to get there.
Hannah’s family said they confirmed sightings of her the next day, and they started receiving disturbing messages on November 11, when her phone last recorded her location – at LAX.
‘I think someone is trying to steal my identity. I’m really scared,” read one of the texts.
The same day, the family said they confirmed a sighting of Hannah as an unidentified person boarded a train and got off at Pico Station.
That was the last time she was seen.
Ryan, who had been searching for his daughter for 13 days, was seen on Friday handing out flyers to passersby in Los Angeles, pleading for information that could help find his daughter.
DailyMail.com spoke to him as his family gathered to spread the word about the disappearance and encourage the public to report any sightings and information.
Ryan DailyMail.com: ‘We will do everything we can until we find her. We just need to get the word out about her.
“She is an amazing person who brings joy to so many people.”
Speaking to CNN last week, the devastated father said: ‘Hannah loved to travel. She loved photography, art, music. I wasn’t that close to her… growing up. We hadn’t been in touch for a while.
‘I’m just trying to make it right. I’m trying to get her back. That’s my main focus’.