The 30-year-old from Hawaii, who vanished after arriving in Los Angeles, is now safe, bringing relief to her family.

Hannah Kobayashi, a 30-year-old woman from Hawaii who had gone missing after arriving in Los Angeles last month, has been found safe, her family confirmed in a statement.

“We are beyond relieved and thankful that Hannah has been located safely,” the family said. “This past month has been an incredibly difficult time for us, and we kindly ask for privacy as we process everything and take the time to heal. Our deepest gratitude goes out to all who have supported us.”

Although no further details were provided by the family, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) received notification on Wednesday from the family that Kobayashi had been found. Initially, the LAPD had classified her disappearance as voluntary, a decision that the family had previously contested.

Lieutenant Doug Oldfield of the LAPD’s missing persons unit had stated, “We have no obligation to make her speak to us, and while the case is being widely reported, she may choose to come forward with a lawyer.”

Kobayashi, who had flown to Los Angeles in early November to catch a connecting flight to New York for a photography job, lost contact with her family after missing her flight. She informed them she was staying overnight at the airport. Shortly after, her family began receiving alarming messages from her phone, some suggesting she had been financially manipulated.

Worried that she might be a victim of kidnapping or trafficking, her family launched a public campaign to locate her. Despite concerns, photographs later emerged showing her in various parts of Los Angeles, including at the high-end Grove shopping centre. Her last known social media post from November 10 suggested she was still in the city, after which her family lost contact with her.

Adding to the tragedy, Kobayashi’s father, Ryan, was found dead in a Los Angeles parking lot in late November, a death ruled as a suicide.

The LAPD had reviewed surveillance footage showing Kobayashi at Los Angeles International Airport, where she retrieved her baggage. She then used her passport and cash to buy a ticket to the U.S.-Mexico border. Investigators later confirmed that she crossed the border on foot at San Ysidro on November 12, appearing unharmed.

“We reviewed video footage from US Customs and Border Protection that shows Hannah crossing into Mexico alone, with her luggage,” LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell stated.