PAHOA (HawaiiNewsNow) – The family of an Army Combat Veteran who received a Purple Heart is asking for help finding him.

Kelly Gravitt was last seen a year and a half ago at Black Lava Vape Shop on Pahoa, Hawaii Island.

The 34-year-old man was serving with the 82nd Airborne Division and suffered a traumatic brain injury from an explosion in Afghanistan in 2010.

His father can’t wait to find out what happened to him.

“I know in my heart that he’s gone. And I just want justice for him. I want to bring him home,” said Kelly’s father, Geff Gravitt.

“He loved going to Kahena beach and hanging out with the crowds. He loved going to open mic night to play the didgeridoo at the Javanese bar. He loved the Pahoa community. You know, he felt that way and these were his people.

Kelly’s father says this shortly before his son goes missing. Kelly was attacked by a biker gang in Pahoa.

“You know, I’ve got a few theories and I’ve got a hundred stories about his murder and now he threw a lava tube alive or something or, you know, but I don’t know, I don’t know which one.” The truth about rabbit holes. So it’s really hard.”

With no leads, Hawaii County police enlisted the help of the FBI.

“His father is in contact with me periodically. And you know, this time of year it’s Veterans Day, you know that, you know,” said Capt. Rio Amon-Wilkins of the Hawaii County Police Department.

This reflects on him a little more,

“There’s a lot of work involved in these cases. There’s a lot of people to interview; family, friends, acquaintances, you know, neighbors. We’re also looking at potential cell phone records and financial records.”

Anyone with information is asked to call police at (808) 935-3311 or the FBI at (808) 566-4300.

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