It has been five months and three weeks since an 80-year-old man from Asau in Savaii went missing but his family has not given up hope of finding him.

Tautaifau Kipaoa Faavesi went missing from his home on Friday 14 April 2023 with the Police saying they have stopped their search for the elderly man although the door is still open for members of the public to report to police if they know his whereabouts.

In May, his disappearance brought heartache to his family on Mother's Day as they got closer to his 80th birthday which was in June. He was 79 when he went missing.

His family was queried on Saturday on whether they have given up hope on the search for their grandfather now that it's been five months and especially with the police giving up their search. They are yet to respond.

Meanwhile, his granddaughter, Vai Eti Jay posted on social media at the time to share her emotions about not having her grandfather at home.

"This Mothers day marks one month since we haven’t seen your beautiful face and heard your voice Papa. You’ve been gone for too long," she posted.

"The fact that my Grandpa Vesi will turn 80 next month and is still not found nor returned home is just heartbreaking."

Another relative, Joice Seuamuli Toso also posted on Facebook, "We believe you are still well and healthy under God’s protection upon you. We believe you will be guided straight back to the mother of the family and children but we continue to pray that God shows all possible ways for you to be found."

However, Ms. Eti had never lost faith in the search for her grandfather despite police stopping their search.

She has been consistently posting on social media urging for public assistance to find her grandfather as their family are concerned about his safety.

"Hate to admit it but my faith wavered but then I remembered one of my Pa's fav hymns from our hymn book, "Matai e ua sou le vasa.”

"Please we urge for your assistance especially families and those from the Itu o Tane constituency."

Ms. Jay said they thought he stopped at a family home to rest while walking to Safa’I because he never takes or hitches a ride with anyone unless he has money to pay them. 

Mr. Faavesi was last seen wearing a shirt with black stripes and an old ie lavalava. According to his granddaughter, her grandfather has symptoms of dementia.

The Police Commissioner, Auapaau Logoitino Filipo, in a previous interview said that the Police Ministry's drone team conducted an aerial survey within the vicinity of Itu o Tane last weekend but he was not found.

"Up to this day there's been no word of his whereabouts and the police drone team even went out there during the weekend and used their drones to search for him but they came back yesterday with no good news," he told Samoa Observer.