Family seeks answers on missing combat vet last seen on Big Island in 2023

PAHOA (HawaiiNewsNow) – The family of an Army Combat Veteran who received a Purple Heart medal is asking for help finding him.
Kelly Gravitt was last seen a year and a half ago at the Black Lava Vape Shop in Pahoa, Hawaii Island.
The 34-year-old served with the 82nd Airborne Division and suffered a traumatic brain injury from an explosion in Afghanistan in 2010.
His father is desperate to know 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,” Kelly’s dad, Geff Gravitt, said.
“He loved going and hanging out with the crowd at Kahena beach. He loved going to open mic night to play his didgeridoo at the Cava bar. He loved the community of Pahoa. He felt like, you know, and those were his people.”
Kelly’s father says shortly before his son went missing. Kelly was attacked by a biker gang in Pahoa.
“I have a few theories, you know, and I’ve got hundreds of stories of his murder, and now he’s thrown out a lava tube alive, stuff or, you know, but I don’t, I don’t know which rabbit holes the truth. So, so it’s really hard.”
With no leads – Hawaii County police have enlisted the help of the FBI.
“His father keeps in contact with me periodically. And you know, this time of year, Veterans Day, you know it, you know,” Capt. Rio Amon-Wilkins Hawaii County Police Department said.
It resonates a little bit more with him,
“A lot of work goes into these cases. A lot of people to be interviewed, family, friends, acquaintances, you know, neighbors. We also look at, you know, 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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