The Eyrie

HAWAI'I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK, HI — A Hawai’i County Police Department K-9 is being praised after helping locate a 70-year-old man who had been missing for nearly two days in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. Trina, a 3-year-old Labrador retriever, tracked David Arai on Monday evening after officers launched a search in difficult conditions.

Police said the dog found Arai after she was given a pillowcase to smell. Officers then followed her through rain, darkness and muddy terrain until she led them to the Uealoha, also known as Byron Ledge Trail. Arai was later taken to a hospital on Hawai’i Island for treatment for severe dehydration and exposure.

How officers used Trina to follow Arai's trail

Officer Christopher Ross said the search became more difficult because the weather and terrain were working against rescuers. The trail was wet, dark and covered with mud and rocks, making the effort physically demanding for the police team and the dog alike.

To give Trina a starting point, officers had her scent Arai’s pillowcase. Ross said she worked for hours before locating him, then ran to Arai and licked his hand as if signaling that help had arrived. Police described the moment as the successful end to a search they had been working urgently to solve.

A rescue shaped by rain, darkness and rough ground

Ross said the conditions in the park made the search especially challenging. Rain was falling, it was dark, and the trail surface included mud and rocks that slowed the response. Those obstacles mattered because the search had already stretched over hours by the time Trina picked up the trail.

The police department said the dog eventually guided searchers to Byron Ledge Trail, where Arai was found. The account from officers suggests the rescue depended on both the K-9’s training and the persistence of the search team working in an environment that could have easily erased a scent trail.

Trina's training and her quick rise with the department

Trina joined the Hawai’i County Police Department in February after a $25,000 donation helped make her placement possible. She is trained to find missing children and endangered adults, giving officers another tool when ordinary searching is not enough in large or difficult terrain.

Originally from Sweden, Trina is still early in her career but has already proven valuable to the department. Police said Arai was the second missing person she has found in the last two months, following a September search for a 13-year-old girl who had run away from home.

Another missing person case solved in recent months

Ross said Trina also performed well during that earlier case, when strong winds complicated the search. He said the blowing sand made tracking harder, but the dog still managed to navigate the conditions and find the juvenile.

That track record has added to the attention around Trina’s work in Hawai’i County. The department has not said how many additional searches she may assist with, but the two recent recoveries have highlighted how trained dogs can help officers in cases where time and terrain are both against them.

Arai's family thanks the dog that found him

The rescue left a strong impression on Arai’s family as well. His son told police that Arai adores Trina and would be happy to adopt her if she ever retires. The comment reflected how personal the case became after Arai was found alive and treated for exposure and dehydration.

Police did not say how Arai became separated in the park, but the recovery ended a search that had lasted nearly two days. For the department, the case became another example of how a trained K-9 can make the difference between a missing-person call and a safe return home.

What the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park search shows about K-9 work

The search underscored the role police dogs can play in wilderness rescues, especially when weather, darkness and rough trails complicate the effort. In this case, officers relied on a dog that could work from a personal scent item and push through terrain that would be difficult for many searchers.

It also highlighted the value of the department’s K-9 program in finding both children and endangered adults. Trina’s rescue of Arai, combined with her earlier success, has quickly made her one of the department’s most visible search partners.