LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i Police Department has released a detailed description of the body found this week in Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge, hoping to identify the deceased. The approximately 5-foot-9-inch man weighed roughly 170 pounds and is believed to have
LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i Police Department has released a detailed description of the body found this week in Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge, hoping to identify the deceased.
The approximately 5-foot-9-inch man weighed roughly 170 pounds and is believed to have been in his 20s or 30s, according to KPD. The man was found wearing dark blue shorts and no shirt. He also wore a silver cutout ring on his left ring finger.
Due to the advanced decomposition of the body, other traits are unidentifiable, a county press release stated.
An Oregon State University student found the decomposed remains Monday in a refuge stream. The body was retrieved the next day.
The general public is not allowed into the area, said Shannon Smith, project leader for the Kaua‘i National Wildlife Refuge Complex, which contains the Hanalei refuge.
Taro farmers farm on the refuge and have houses there. The student who found the body was conducting research on the Koloa ma‘oli, a Hawaiian duck.
“No other people are allowed in there other than by special use permit,” Smith said.
She said she doubted the man whose body was found had a permit. “I would probably venture to say no.”
Trespassing does occur in the refuge, Smith said, but not often.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officers are also participating in the investigation.
Anyone with information about the man or a missing person matching this description is asked to call Police Dispatch at 241-1711 or Detective Vicki Fonoimoana at 241-1694.
