Hannah Kobayashi says she was unaware of frenzy after her family reported her missing

Hannah Kobayashi, the 30-year-old woman from Hawaii who was the subject of an intense search, is only now learning about the widespread attention she received after her family reported her missing last month.

Kobayashi said in a letter distributed through Larie Pidgeon, her aunt, that she returned to the US from Mexico on Sunday.

“I was unaware of everything that was happening in the media while I was away, and I am still processing it all,” she said in the statement.

Kobayashi, of Maui, arrived at Los Angeles International Airport on November 8 but missed a connecting flight to New York City, family members said.

Her family became alarmed a few days later when she stopped communicating with them, they said. They reported her missing on November 13, with the Los Angeles Police Department taking over the case on November 15, police said.

Relatives were particularly concerned about security video showing an unknown man with Kobayashi in Los Angeles, but police said they investigated and found no wrongdoing.

Kobayashi had planned to travel to New York to tour museums and galleries as part of her goal of becoming an artist, Pidgeon has said.

Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said this month that it appeared Kobayashi willfully remained in Los Angeles and cut off communication on her own.

He said she had her luggage rerouted back to Los Angeles International Airport after she missed her flight to New York City.

McDonnell also said investigators reviewed a U.S. Customs and Border Protection video showing Kobayashi crossing into Mexico at the San Ysidro pedestrian crossing in San Diego at 12.13pm on November 12.

While he said the woman was free to travel, he urged her to reach out to concerned family members, some of whom flew to Los Angeles from Hawaii and other parts of the country to coordinate their search.

On November 24, after relatives gathered in Los Angeles, her father died by suicide near Los Angeles International Airport, police said.

Last week, Kobayashi’s family said she had been found safe. Her mother and sister, who did not say when or where she was found, said they were grateful she had been located.

In her statement on Monday, Kobayashi said she returned to the US at daybreak Sunday, without providing details about her experience.

“My focus now is on my healing, my peace and my creativity,” she said.

“I am deeply grateful to my family and everyone who has shown me kindness and compassion during this time.”

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