You may imagine how family and close friends are feeling with the
disappearance of our dearest Are Hjørungnes, the Norwegian professor
who got lost during a H.U.R.T. run in Hawaii. The whole situation
becomes even more difficult to grasp for those knowing him as he is so
young, and strong, and trained, and smart. And he has been so happy
lately with fulfilment of the dream of spending a whole sabbatical
year in Hawaii. Are is no doubt a very special person, and this is not
only for the closest ones: he is definitely not average protocol.
After visiting the American state for the first time a couple of years
back, Are has repeatedly expressed the whish to spend a longer period
of time living in the island. For he loves the place’s nature and
beauty, and he wanted to explore more of that from the inside. As he
often says it is important to be happy, for being happy one gives more
back to society – scientifically speaking. Determined as few, he
materialised the dream – as usual- and got an invitation to spend one
year as a guest professor at Department of Electrical Engineering at
Manoa/University of Hawaii a dream which should last until 15th July
this year.
Believer on the almost unlimited capacity of men and knowledge, Are is
a wall breaker and a great mind with proved contribution to
development of the science of our time. Recently he published a book
through the Cambridge University press creating an innovative
mathematical tool which has been used for solving many technological
challenges unsolvable before. He represents lots of investments
already made, value already created, and a valuable resource for
Mankind contributing for technological development - also in the
future.
Considering the above, it is difficult to grasp why the official
search should cease after completion of the average protocol mandatory
requirements. Chances are still good that Are is alive as I write
these lines. For he is such a strong man and life-lover that I am sure
of his great capacity of carrying on a long way playing together with
nature - his great love and ally. But for this to suffice and have
value, it is imperative that the authorities do not cease the official
search with all the available technology – the very same technology he
has contributed to develop. If we do not look for him, we will for
sure not find him.
These days are crucial,
Diana Maciel
All humans have the right to be searched in a situation like that. However, in the case of Are all human kind will less important without him. He is a very special
ReplyDeleteperson, and only those who know him can evaluate how the world needs more Ares.
What is needed? Money? Sense of humanity?
Please lets do what it takes to have him back.
Prof. Paulo S. R. Diniz, UFRJ
Well said, Diana. I cannot accept the fact that official search efforts have been discontinued after only few days. It should be the other way around! If he has not been found in the first few days, efforts should be increased, more technology and man power should be employed!
ReplyDeleteMarcello Campos.
To Are's friends,
ReplyDeleteEverything possible is being done to find your friend. The fire department search was extensive, with copters and ground crews. They searched for three days and covered the entire area. Dogs were used. During the official search and after other very dedicated runners have been conducting ground sweeps. The area is largely covered in tropical forest, steep ravines and cliffs and dense under brush. It is very difficult searching these areas. Hundreds of hours of time have been dedicated to the task. Nothing of his has been found. Not a trace. We know no more today about his exact location than we knew Saturday afternoon when he failed to come down 30 minutes behind the first runner.
Hawaii is a place where many people relax their guard and forget the simple rules of the outdoors. We have many, many, disappearances in the hills and in our waters as a result. Are was informed of the dangers of hiking in this area. He understood the risks. He left the group and headed off on his own. For whatever reason he then chose to leave the road. The fact is he likely ignored all the common rules of hiking in Hawaii, or most anywhere else. We can only guess why he did this. We will likely never know.
Though everyone here in Hawaii understands your grief and despair, you must understand that all that can be done is being done. To insinuate otherwise is to insult the very people who have shown the greatest effort and concern. We all want Are back. We will continue to look for him. But we do so out of great Aloha for Are and his family, though not with much hope of finding him alive.
Six days up in the hills above Mokuleia is a very long time.
Aloha