Eight missing youths aged 13–17 were recovered on Oʻahu during a coordinated state and federal effort called Operation Shine the Light. Two of the teenagers had been reported as runaways for more than a year. The recovery — announced in a Jan. 23 joint press release — occurred during National Human Trafficking Prevention Month and investigations are ongoing. Authorities urge anyone with information to contact local police or NCMEC.
Eight Missing Teens Recovered on Oʻahu During Operation Shine the Light — Two Had Been Missing Over a Year
FBI HonoluluFBI searching for missing children in Hawaii as part of Operation Shine the Light
Eight missing children, all between the ages of 13 and 17, were located on the island of Oʻahu as part of a coordinated state and federal recovery effort called Operation Shine the Light, officials said.
The recoveries were announced in a joint press release from the Hawaii Department of the Attorney General, the Hawaii Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on Jan. 23. Authorities said the youths were located over the weekend of Jan. 16; two had been reported as runaways more than a year earlier. Officials did not specify whether the children were recovered at one site or multiple locations.
Operation Background and Purpose
Launched in 2020, Operation Shine the Light is a multiagency initiative designed to locate at-risk and endangered youth on Oʻahu through coordinated law enforcement and social services action. The program focuses on youth who may be vulnerable to assault, kidnapping, exploitation or trafficking while missing.
Honolulu Police Department/FacebookHonolulu Police vehicle
"Operation Shine the Light aims to proactively identify and recover endangered youth who are at an elevated risk of assault, kidnapping, exploitation and trafficking while missing and bring them to safety,"
"This initiative demonstrates the power of coordinated action, shared expertise and unified commitment to child safety and well-being,"
Context and Next Steps
The operation took place during National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, a presidentially designated period intended to raise public awareness about trafficking and how to recognize signs of exploitation. Investigations into the circumstances surrounding the recoveries are ongoing, and the Hawaii Department of the Attorney General, Hawaii DHS and the FBI did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for additional comment.
The joint release also cited statistics from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC): in 2025, one in seven of the more than 32,000 missing-children cases reported to NCMEC were likely child sex trafficking victims, and 17% of children who ran away from foster care or state custody were considered likely sex trafficking victims.
Anyone with information about missing children or suspected exploitation is urged to contact local law enforcement or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678).
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