Friends and family of George Morishima, Hawaiian Mountain and Trail Club volunteers, forestry officials, police and firefighters joined in the search in Nuuanu for the missing 78-year-old Aiea hiker. Effort grows to find hiker
missing since SundayStar-Bulletin staff
The search was suspended at about 5:30 p.m. yesterday, said Honolulu Fire Capt. Kenison Tejada, and the search team is expected to return to the area near Judd Trail and Pauoa Flats this morning.
Two hikers said they ran into Morishima along the trail at about 5:30 p.m. Sunday, and he told them he was taking a shortcut.
Morishima left his Aiea home at about 2 p.m. Sunday to gather bamboo shoots, pepeau (tree fungus) and bamboo leaves for the New Year. After he failed to return, his son Greg searched for him and located his gold Oldsmobile car at about 6:30 p.m. near Jackass Ginger Pool at 4161 Nuuanu Pali Drive.
Family members, who have been searching for Morishima since Sunday night, said he had suffered a mild stroke and has experienced short-term memory loss over the past year.
