The Hawaiʻi Department of the Attorney General, Department of Human Services, and Honolulu Police Department announced the successful completion of Operation Shine the Light VII, a coordinated child recovery effort conducted on Oʻahu on June 25–26, 2026.
The operation resulted in the safe recovery of 14 missing youth, ages 13 to 17 (9 females and 5 males), making it the largest recovery effort in the operation’s history. The recovered youth were located across Oʻahu, assessed for signs of human trafficking, abuse, and exploitation, and connected with emergency services. Investigations remain ongoing.
Operation Shine the Light VII brought together a broad coalition of federal, state, county, judicial, nonprofit, and victim advocacy partners, including:
- Hawaiʻi Department of the Attorney General
- Department of Human Services
- Honolulu Police Department
- Department of Law Enforcement
- FBI Honolulu
- U.S. Secret Service
- U.S. Marshals Service
- Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division
- First Circuit Family Court
- Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney’s Office
- Hale Kipa’s Trafficking Victim Assistance Program (TVAP)
- National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC)
Officials emphasized that missing youth are at high risk for homelessness, abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking. They credited strong interagency collaboration and community tips for the operation’s success.
Hale Kipa’s Youth Advocacy Services Director, Victoria Roland, highlighted the importance of including victim advocates in recovery operations, noting that advocates often have established relationships with the youth before they are located. She expressed gratitude for the collaboration and recognized Hale Kipa’s advocates for helping achieve the largest recovery effort in the operation’s history.
Operation Shine the Light was established in 2020 by the Hawaiʻi Attorney General’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Missing Child Center-Hawaiʻi to locate and protect endangered missing youth, particularly those in foster care who are at high risk of trafficking and exploitation.
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Click here to read the full official news release
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Community members can help to combat child abuse/neglect and child trafficking by contacting the Hawaiʻi Department of Human Services’ hotlines available 24 hours a day, seven days a week:
- Child Abuse and/or Neglect: 808-832-5300 (Oʻahu)
- Child Abuse and/or Neglect: Toll-free 1-888-380-3088 (Hawaiʻi Island, Maui, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, Kauaʻi)
- Child Trafficking: 808-832-1999 (Oʻahu)
- Child Trafficking: Toll-free 1-888-398-1188 (Hawaiʻi Island, Maui, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, Kauaʻi)
Anyone with information regarding missing children or the exploitation of children is encouraged to contact your local police department or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678).
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Photo (left to right): Ed Arias, Commander of the Department of the AG’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Amanda Leonard – Coordinator of the Department of the AG’s Missing Child Center-Hawaiʻi and MAILE AMBER Alert Coordinator.
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