Emergency responders and family members are searching again today for a 44-year-old Honaunau man who was last seen and heard from early Wednesday afternoon when his Jeep became disabled in the Keanakolu Area, about 16-18 miles up Mana Road, which runs up Maunakea from Waimea.
Police Lt. Rio Amon-Wilkins said rescuers haven’t received any good leads on the location of Lester Keala Lorenz, who’s described as 5-foot-8-inches tall, 300 pounds, with a heavy build, tax complexion, brown eyes and brown hair.
“The Fire Department’s up there again today with a ground crew and the chopper,” Amon-Wilkins said.
Asked how police were made aware of Lorenz’s predicament, Amon-Wilkins said Lorenz had called police at about 1 p.m. Wednesday.
“It was a bad connection, but he’d called our dispatch. And that’s right around the time, I believe, his vehicle became disabled,” he said. “Officers responded right away. It’s approximately 20 miles away from Waimea town where his vehicle was.”
Arriving officers found the Jeep but no trace of Lorenz.
Amon-Wilkins said police attempted to call and “ping” Lorenz’s cellphone, but had no luck making contact in the remote location.
Amon-Wilkins doesn’t believe Lorenz had provisions for an extended stay on the mountain or appropriate clothing for the mountain’s chilly weather. There are ranch lands in the area, which is popular with hunters and all-terrain vehicle drivers.
Anyone who may have seen Lorenz or may have information on his whereabouts is asked to call the police nonemergency line at 935-3311 or contact Detective Grant Todd of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at 961-2381 or email grant.todd@hawaiicounty.gov.
Those who prefer anonymity may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300.