Man Found in Kīlauea Caldera Identified

Hawai‘i National Park Park officials have identified the 38-year-old man recovered early Sunday morning, July 10,  near the bottom of Kīlauea Caldera. The man was identified as Gregory Michael Ure, also known as Leo Michael Adonis, of California.

His last known address was La Mesa, Calif.

Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park officials confirm the finding of a note in the backpack belonging to the victim. Details concerning the note and circumstances of the death will not be publicly discussed until the National Park Service has concluded its investigation and the county pathologist has ruled on the cause of death.

On Saturday, July 8, two visitors discovered a backpack on Crater Rim Trail at approximately 7 p.m. Park dispatch was notified, and rangers searched the caldera rim and floor on foot, but were unable to locate its owner. The search was suspended due to unsafe conditions at night, and resumed at dawn on Sunday, July 9.

Rangers aboard a helicopter found the victim about 250 feet below the caldera rim, in an area that is not currently erupting, around 5:35 a.m. Sunday.