Hawai‘i police searching for missing ʻopihi picker in Pāhoa

Hawai‘i Island police have initiated a missing person case in connection with a 29-year-old Pāhoa woman who failed to return from a day of picking ʻopihi.

Shanice Ogata-Staudinger was picking ʻopihi (snails) with a relative in the area of Kahakai Boulevard and Papio Street in Pāhoa, at a spot commonly known as “Hau Bush”, on July 9 at 11 a.m.

Ogata-Staudinger became separated from her relative and failed to return to their prearranged meeting spot later that afternoon.

Emergency personnel, including police and Hawai‘i Fire Department’s Chopper One, responded to the scene and conducted extensive checks in the area. The United States Coast Guard is assisting in the search, and continued looking for Ogata-Staudinger throughout the night.

At first light Monday morning, July 10, Hawai‘i Fire Department units returned to the area, and Hawaii Police Department’s Area I scent-discriminating canine was also deployed to conduct a more extensive ground search.

Ogata-Staudinger is described as local with a medium build, 5 feet 2 inches tall, 150 pounds, with brown hair and hazel eyes. She was last seen wearing a black tank top, blue jeans and purple tabis water shoes. She has a dollar sign symbol tattoo on her left cheek.

Police ask anyone who may have any information on the whereabouts of Ogata-Staudinger to contact the police department’s non-emergency line at 808-935-3311.