Searchers look for man on steep trail above Kahana

By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer

Police and fire rescue crews searched for about three hours yesterday afternoon for a Honolulu man whose wallet was found in a backpack along a steep trail above Kahana Valley.

Phillip O. Milos was last seen on Friday. HPD photo

Officer Phil Camero of the Police Department's missing persons detail said no one reported Milos missing until two women found the backpack with his identification card in it along the Crouching Lion trail.

Camero said the women retrieved the wallet, but left the backpack where they found it about a mile into the trail, which runs along the ridgeline between Kahana and Ka'a'awa valleys. The hikers found the backpack Monday afternoon and notified police yesterday.

Camero said police were unable to find Milos or his 1989 Dodge and called the Fire Department to begin a search along the trail about 4:15 p.m.

When the search was halted just after sunset, Camero said, there were no signs of Milos or the backpack. The search will resume today.

Camero said the hikers said they found the backpack at about the 2,000-foot level of the trail, which is narrow and recommended for "only for the most experienced hikers."

There was no evidence of foul play, nor were there any reports that Milos has been depressed. Milos recently moved to Hawai'i from the Mainland and has no family here.

Milos is 6 feet, 230 pounds, with gray hair and brown eyes. His car is a 1989 blue Dodge with a license plate number KHD-195.

Anyone with information is asked to call Camero at 529-3394, police at 529-3115, or CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.