Hawai‘i Island police are searching for 26-year-old Darius Kanekoa‑Gentzler, last seen in the Volcano area on Nov. 5 and considered endangered. Authorities say they’re concerned for his well-being and are asking the public to keep an eye out. He’s about 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighs around 190 pounds, and was last seen in a gray hoodie and black work boots.
In a media release, the Hawaiʻi Police Department said Kanekoa‑Gentzler “is considered endangered as he may be in need of medical assistance.” Police have assigned the case report number 25‑101762 and are asking anyone with information to come forward.
An alert shared through county channels added more identifiers: Kanekoa‑Gentzler is Hawaiian and has tattoos reading “blessed” on the back of his neck and “family” on his right hand, according to the Nixle advisory. That message went out on Monday and included county contact details for tips.
Where He Was Last Seen
Kanekoa‑Gentzler was reportedly last seen at about 6:30 a.m. on Kaleponi Road in Volcano on Wednesday, Nov. 5, as reported by Big Island Now. The outlet also notes the gray hoodie and black work boots may help with identification. Local search efforts are ongoing, and investigators are asking residents to check property and any cameras in the area for possible sightings.
How To Help
If you have information, call 911 in an emergency or the Hawaiʻi Police Department non‑emergency line at (808) 935‑3311, and contact Officer Ethan Castillo at [email protected], per the Hawaiʻi Police Department. Reference report number 25‑101762.
Terrain And Search Challenges
The Volcano area features rugged terrain and unstable volcanic lands that can complicate ground searches—state warnings note newly formed lava lands and hidden fissures can slow operations and add risk, according to the DLNR. That’s why even small tips and camera footage can be a big help to investigators.
If you think you’ve seen Kanekoa‑Gentzler—or your dash‑cam or door‑cam picked up anything around Volcano—police want to hear from you. In cases like this, even a minor detail can move the search forward.
