Hiker on honeymoon found dead after days-long Molokai search
EAST MOLOKAI (HawaiiNewsNow) - A Maryland hiker celebrating his honeymoon on Molokai has been found dead, five days after setting out on a trail alone.
Maui County officials said 27-year-old Stephen Kramar's body was found about 9:16 a.m. in an area called Pia Gulch, about a half-mile northeast of the Wavecrest Resort.
An autopsy will be conducted to determine his exact cause of death.
Kramar set out on the hike on Monday morning, hoping to chart out a trail to make sure it was safe enough for his new wife. He was set to return later that day, but never did.
A massive search was kicked off Tuesday, with search and rescue teams and volunteers scouring the east side of the island.
His new wife, Jeffanie, pleaded for anyone familiar with the area to help.
The two got married in Virginia on Sept. 8, and jetted off to Hawaii for their honeymoon just hours after their reception.
"We saw the east side for the first time and Stephen just was dazzled seeing the mountain," Jeffanie Kramar told Hawaii News Now earlier this week. "He's an avid hiker, so he's hiked a few mountains before. Most of them though, were snow-capped mountains."
It was the couple's first trip to the islands.
Jeffanie Kramar said they were going to hike the mountain together. But because her husband is more experienced at hiking, he wanted to check out the terrain first to make sure it was safe.
She said he left around 9:30 a.m. About 2:30 p.m., she received a text from him, saying he was OK and headed back.
That was the last text she received from him.
This story will be updated.
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