On Friday evening, an Amber Alert was issued to locate 15-year-old Kealakehe High School student Mikella Debina who was allegedly kidnapped at knifepoint near the Lava Lava Beach Club at Anaehoʻomalu Bay.  A second statewide alert was sent at 1:43 a.m. on Saturday morning.  This incident was the second time an Amber Alert was issued in Hawaiʻi in 17 years.

Members of the community in addition to the FBI, HFD, U.S. Marshals Service, DLNR, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration all worked to locate Debina.

An employee at the Cafe Pesto in Hilo spotted Debina with her alleged kidnapper, 52 year-old Duncan Kealoha Mahi, on Saturday.  The employee wrestled Debina away from Mahi who got away but was later arrested by Hawai‘i County Police in Hilo   Debina was said to be in good health

Mayor Mitch Roth released the following statement about the incident:

“We are relieved and overjoyed to hear that Mikella Debina has been found and is in the safety of the Hawaiʻi Police Department. Our officers worked tirelessly through the night with the help of the FBI and the community to ensure her safe return. We continue to be humbled by the community’s ability to come together in challenging times to uplift each other as one ʻohana. Unfortunately, these things can happen anywhere, and we ask our residents to say something if they see something. Looking out for each other is the best way to keep each other safe. We would also like to send our warmest aloha to the Debina ʻohana as we can’t imagine the amount of trauma and heartache they’ve endured over the last 24 hours. Mahalo to all who shared her story or got involved in some way.”