Police K9 Trina tracks down missing man, 70, at Volcanoes Park

Trina has done it again.

The three-year-old, scent-discriminating Labrador retriever found a missing 70-year-old Oahu man at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park on Monday evening, according to Hawaii island police.

The Hawaii Police Department at 12:16 p.m., received a report for the missing man, last known to be in the Volcano area. He had not been seen for more than 24 hours, according to the report, and was considered endangered due to his age and other circumstances.

HPD initiated a search and found the missing man’s rental car at Hawai‘i Volanoes National Park.

Both police and park personnel conducted an extensive search, including an aerial search, with the assistance of the Hawaii Fire Department’s helicopter.

But it was Trina, and her handler, officer Christopher Ross, of the Area II Juvenile Aid Section, that found the missing man at about 7:30 p.m.

Trina located the man on a trail, just about two miles from where he had parked his rental car. He apparently suffered from dehydration and exposure and was apparently lost and unable to return on his own.

First responders carried the man back to the trailhead, where he was then taken to Hilo Benioff Medical Center for further treatment. No further details on his condition was provided.

Trina, born in Sweden, is trained as a “live-find human tracking canine.” Her task is to assist the police in searches for missing children and endangered adults throughout Hawaii island.

It is the second time in two months that her scent-detecting abilities successfully located a missing person. Last month, she was able to find a missing, endangered teen in a brush-covered area in Waikoloa.

HPD brought K9 Trina aboard earlier this year, thanks to a donation from the Hawaii Island K9 Association. She replaced K9 Argo, who retired in 2023 after five years of service.