Hawaii County detectives renew appeal in 1987 Lynn Ebisuzaki killing; sketch released

Detectives from the Hawaiʻi Police Department’s Unsolved Homicides Unit renewed a public appeal on January 28, 2026, in the nearly 40-year-old killing of 26-year-old Lynn Ebisuzaki and released a composite sketch in hopes of generating new leads. Ebisuzaki was found stabbed to death on May 1, 1987. Investigators say witnesses previously reported seeing an unknown man arguing with Ebisuzaki in a church parking lot on Kinoʻole Street earlier that night.

The composite sketch was produced with assistance from Honolulu police and is being circulated to solicit identification and fresh information from anyone who might recognize the person depicted. Authorities asked anyone able to identify the person in the sketch or with any information about the incident to contact the Unsolved Homicides Unit or submit anonymous tips to Crime Stoppers.

The renewed appeal places a cold case back in public view at a time when long-unsolved crimes increasingly draw renewed attention from both investigators and communities seeking closure. The Unsolved Homicides Unit’s move to share a sketch generated by witness descriptions underscores the dependence of such investigations on public memory and community cooperation. Interagency collaboration with Honolulu police highlights the use of broader law enforcement resources to revisit old leads.

For Big Island residents, the case remains a local crime that touches questions of safety, trust in investigative institutions, and the possibility of accountability decades after a violent death. The Kinoʻole Street location and church parking lot setting recall community spaces that are ordinarily seen as secure, amplifying concern among neighbors and congregants. Renewing the appeal also serves as a reminder that cold cases can be reopened when new information comes to light, whether from witnesses who come forward or from tips prompted by renewed publicity.

The release of the sketch gives residents a concrete action: review the image, consider whether anyone known in your circles matches the description, and report any relevant information. Crime Stoppers offers an anonymous channel for those reluctant to identify themselves, while the Unsolved Homicides Unit remains the lead investigative body handling follow-up.

Detectives will evaluate any tips and follow investigative leads as they develop. For readers, the immediate implication is civic: local knowledge can be critical in resolving a case that has gone unsolved since 1987, and community engagement may be the key to providing answers for the family of Lynn Ebisuzaki and restoring confidence in public safety on the Big Island.