Have you ever had that sick feeling in the pit of your stomach after losing something valuable? Or, even worse, getting something stolen? Unfortunately, there are no universal lost and found Hawaii offers. After all, the islands aren’t an amusement park or massive resort. But, depending on where you lost your item (or items), there may be some options.
What To Do When You’ve Lost Something in Hawaii
Lost valuables. While it’s probably the last feeling you’d imagine having on a vacation, it’s very likely it could happen. A cold sweat takes over, as you search high and low, retracing your steps a dozen times – before the reality of it hits: you’re never getting it back.
People lose all kinds of items in Hawaii – whether these things are left behind or stolen. Full suitcases, pricey electronics, jewelry, wallets, clothes, toys. It happens to residents and visitors, and it’s a quick way to ruin a fun beach day, a Hawaii hiking trip, or driving tour of the island.
But don’t give up just yet. There are a few things you must do, starting with taking a deep breath and remaining calm. Yes, you might be out hundreds – even thousands – of dollars, but it shouldn’t mean it’s the end of a vacation.
Unfortunately, tangible things tend to rule our lives nowadays – with smartphones and tablets at close reach. Be thankful you’re still in the company of your family and loved ones. They’ll help you to lift your spirits and to take the next steps in finding your missing items – whether that’s by finding a lost and found resource in Hawaii or retracing your steps over and over.
It wouldn’t also hurt to file a police report, especially if that special item was stolen. The cops are more than used to dealing with victims of theft. They’ll have you fill out a lengthy report and leave your contact information.
It may sound like a lost cause, but rest assured, items have been returned in the past. In fact, a tourist who visited Maui several years ago just got her class ring back, after a man found it on the side of the road and turned it in to the police. I love happy endings.
Hawaii Lost and Found Locations
Ahead, we’re outlining common places where you might lose something in Hawaii. Take a look and see what your lost & found options are!
Airport or Airplane
If you lost the item on a flight to or from your vacation destination, then you should contact the airport or airlines immediately. Here’s where you can find the contact info for the Honolulu airport, its airlines, and TSA security.
TheBus or the Honolulu Rail
Public transportation in Hawaii, such as TheBus, usually always has a lost and found website. If you lose something on TheBus or the Honolulu Rail in Hawaii, go to their lost and found page here.
Make sure to have the description of the lost/stolen item, the route number of the bus you were on, the date and time it was lost, and the time you boarded the bus. Also, if you remember where you were seated on the bus, then that’d be helpful. TheBus and the Rail only hold lost items for 30 days.
The Beach
Losing something at the beach gets tricky because the landscape is always changing. By that, I mean the ocean tides and waves shift things around underwater or even on shore. And with all the foot traffic, it’s easy for your lost belongings to get buried in the sand.
If there are lifeguards on duty, you could always let them know you’ve lost an item and leave your contact info with them. It’s by no means a guarantee they’ll find it. After all, their job isn’t to be a Hawaii lost and found service. But it wouldn’t hurt to let them know.
And because the ocean is often the culprit in lost jewelry, it’s not uncommon for a tourist to rent a metal detector. There are several places you could visit, such as Hawaii Rent-All. For about $30 a day, it could be worth the chance you’ll locate your lost jewelry.
In fact, some tourists sometimes rent them for fun. You never know what treasures you’ll discover. If you don’t want to rent, then hire someone to do it for you. Check out the websites for Lost Ring Maui or The Ring Finders.
At Your Hotel
The major resorts have a pretty streamlined system for lost and found items in Hawaii. If you think you left something in your room or lost it on your hotel grounds, you can report it to your hotel, and they’ll contact you if the staff finds it.
If All Else Fails…
Head to Facebook. All the islands in Hawaii have a lost and found page where you can spread the word about your missing item. You’d be amazed at how many “good samaritans” there are out there, who log on just to report an item they found.
Looking for Hawaii Lost and Found
It feels terrible when you lose something on vacation. And while chances are slim that you’ll get it back, it’s worth going through the Lost and Found process to locate it.
Of course, prevention is the best way to hold on to your belongings in Hawaii. Attach a large keychain to your car rental key, bring only the necessities out with you, don’t leave valuables in your car, and put an AirTag on your most important items.
And, if you find something valuable while you’re on your Hawaii vacation, turn it in to lost and found. This could mean locating a wallet’s owner based on their contact info, charging up a cell phone and answering when the owner calls looking for it, turning something in to the closest employees, or posting on a lost and found page in Hawaii.
