UPDATED MEDIA RELEASE (3/31/10 11:20 a.m.)

Big Island police have located Joel Elliot Collins, who was reported missing.

He was found unharmed in Kea’au at 10:37 a.m. Wednesday (March 31).

MEDIA RELEASE (3/31/10 8:55 a.m.)

Joel Elliott Collins

Big Island police are investigating a report of a missing person in the Kehena Beach area of lower Puna.

Joel Elliott Collins, 22, from New Jersey was last contacted by family members on Thursday morning (March 25). At that time, Collins told his family he was at a beach park. His back pack was found on the side of a roadway near Kehena Beach Park and turned in as found property on Monday (March 29).

Police ask that anyone with information as to the man’s whereabouts call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.