Media Release

Big Island police are searching for a 50-year-old New Jersey man reported missing.

Walter Rankin of Florham Park New Jersey, was last seen on Friday (December 24) after having rented a bike at the Queens Marketplace with the intention of riding into town to meet locals in Kona.

He is described as an African-American, 5-foot-11, 190 pounds and bald. He has many earring piercings and a tattoo of cheetah marks across his back and shoulder. He was last seen wearing black-and-white striped Billabong shorts and white sneakers.

He was last heard from on Saturday (December 25) from an unknown location. Efforts to contact him on his cell phone have been unsuccessful.

Rankin and his girlfriend are scheduled to return to the mainland today (December 28) at about 9:20 p.m. from the Kona Airport.

Police ask that anyone with information on his whereabouts call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311.