Eight missing children have been safely recovered in Hawaii following a coordinated operation involving state and federal law enforcement agencies.
The children, aged between 13 and 17, were found during a multiagency initiative known as Operation Shine the Light, according to a joint press release issued on January 23 by the Hawaii Department of the Attorney General, the Hawaii Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
A spokesperson for the Hawaii Department of the Attorney General confirmed to PEOPLE that the recoveries took place on January 16 and 17, with the children located separately at different sites across the island of Oʻahu.
The spokesperson added that all eight children were safely returned and reunited with their legal guardians.
As of Sunday, January 25, the Hawaii DHS and the FBI had not responded to requests for comment from PEOPLE. Authorities, however, said investigations connected to the operation are still ongoing.
READ ALSO: Woman Found Alive in Coffin Moments Before Cremation
Operation Shine the Light was launched in 2020 to help locate missing, at-risk and endangered youth on Oʻahu through close collaboration among multiple agencies.
“Operation Shine the Light aims to proactively identify and recover endangered youth who are at an elevated risk of assault, kidnapping, exploitation and trafficking while missing and bring them to safety,” said Amanda Leonard, coordinator of the Missing Child Center-Hawaii and MAILE AMBER Alert Coordinator.
“This initiative demonstrates the power of coordinated action, shared expertise and unified commitment to child safety and well-being,” added Elladine Olevao, acting administrator for the DHS Social Services Division.
The recent operation coincided with National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, a period designated by the U.S. president to promote public awareness and education on the warning signs of human trafficking.
Data from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) shows that one in seven of the more than 32,000 missing children cases reported to the organisation in 2025 were likely linked to child sex trafficking.
The data also indicates that 17 per cent of children who ran away from foster care or state care were at high risk of being trafficked.
Authorities urged members of the public with information on missing or exploited children to contact their local police departments or reach the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678).
