Operation Shine the Light leads to record recovery of 14 missing children on Oahu

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A two-day child recovery operation on Oʻahu led to the safe recovery of 14 endangered missing children, marking the highest recovery count in the history of Operation Shine the Light.

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Record recovery on Oʻahu

Operation Shine the Light VII brought together multiple local, state and federal agencies — including the Honolulu Police Department, Hawaii Department of Human Services, the FBI and U.S. Marshals Service — to locate runaway youth reported missing statewide.

According to Amanda Leonard, coordinator for the Department of the Attorney General’s Missing Child Center and Maile AMBER Alert Program, the operation began in 2020 and has now helped recover 64 children.

The 14 minors recovered during last week’s operation ranged in age from 13 to 17.

Summer can be higher-risk

Leonard said summer can be a higher-risk period for missing and endangered youth, as children are out of school and away from regular supervision.

“We’re using every single resource that we have to locate and recover them and provide them with whatever necessary services they may need, whether it’s medical, whether it’s victim services,” Leonard said.

Why kids go missing

Officials say once a minor is reported missing, they are considered endangered under federal guidelines because of increased risks of exploitation, abuse and harm.

Leonard said the reasons children go missing are often complex.

“It’s a multifaceted reasoning,” Leonard said. “They may be struggling with mental health issues. They may be struggling with substance abuse issues. They may be running to an older boyfriend or an older girlfriend.”

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Services after recovery

Once recovered, children are connected to services aimed at helping stabilize their lives and prevent future missing episodes.

Hawaii Department of Human Services deputy director Trista Speer said support services are tailored to each child’s needs.

“Whether it’s substance abuse treatment, or exploitation treatment, or anything in between, mental health treatment and services to really just wrap around any child that is in need of some additional support,” Speer said.

Focus on early intervention

Officials said early intervention is critical.

Leonard said the goal is to help children regain stability before they age out of the juvenile system and face greater long-term risks.

“They restore their childhood, and that we can prevent them from becoming adults that are stuck in that life and being sucked into the adult criminal justice system,” Leonard said. “We don’t want that.”

To report child abuse, neglect or trafficking, contact the state’s 24-hour hotline at (808) 832-5300.

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