Marina's parents, Chiharu Mori Wakao and Alan Kaneda, shared joint custody of her following their divorce in 2003; Alan got to see the child for three or four days every week. On May 21, 2004, Alan came to get Marina as scheduled and she was nowhere to be found. He learned she had not been in school since the day he last saw her, on May 19. Wakao had abducted her. There are warrants out for her arrest for custodial interference and child abduction, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Hawaii U. S. attorney's office issued a warrant for international parental kidnapping in May 2005. Interpol notices have been issued for both Marina and Wakao. Photographa and vital statistics for Wakao are posted below this case summary.

Photographs and vital statistics for Wakao are unavailable. She may use the last name Kaneda. She took Marina to her native Japan after the child's abduction and has refused to come back; she claims she was forced to do it because she believed Alan was abusing Marina. Alan denies this and there is no evidence to support Wakao's claims.

Wakao and Marina are believed to be in Osaka, Japan. Alan is taking legal action to get his daughter back but thus far has been unsuccessful. He is still fighting for full legal and physical custody of Marina in Hawaiian courts. The child's case remains unsolved.