Community: 7-21-23 FBI Operation Cross Country Helps Locate High Risk Runaways in East Hawai’i

On Friday, July 21, 2023, the Hawai’i Police Department participated in the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Operation Cross Country XIII. Operation Cross Country is a coordinated operation among the FBI, other federal agencies, state and local police, and social services agencies across the country to locate and recover runaways considered “high risk” and/or “endangered.” Also participating in Friday’s operation were the U.S. Marshals Service, DOCARE, Missing Child Center Hawai’i, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), along with Child Welfare Services.

During Friday’s operation in the Hilo and Puna areas, law enforcement officials located the following juveniles who had previously been reported as runaways:

• Serenity Salmo-Kaawa, 15-year-old female
• U’ilani Leaverton, 15-year-old female
• Shaelynn Gomes, 16-year-old female
• Momi Leonard, 16-year-old female

Detectives are still searching for 17-year-old Tanaiyah Hao-Kallio (pictured above) who is wanted for runaway. She is described as 5 feet 5 inches tall, 140 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. She is known to frequent the Ka’u district.

Police ask anyone with information on the whereabouts of Hao-Kallio, or other runaways, to contact the Hawai’i Police Department’s non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the island-wide Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.00. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers does not record calls or subscribe to any Caller ID service. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential