Robert Arvin was a 49-year-old sailor who left Sand Island, Hawaii, in the summer of 2008 aboard his 30-foot Cape Dory sailboat Ua Noa, bound for San Diego. He planned a southerly route and had an estimated arrival of September 1, 2008. Friends and family knew his plans.

When he did not arrive, concern grew and the U.S. Coast Guard listed him overdue on September 10, 2008. On September 14, 2008, crew on a Matson container ship reported seeing the Ua Noa at sea and observed a male on board; that sighting is the last known trace of Arvin. The Ua Noa carried only about 25 gallons of diesel, reportedly insufficient for extended motoring through calm conditions on the planned route.

No further sign of Robert Arvin or his boat has been found, and his fate remains unresolved. If anyone was near the southerly trans-pacific lanes in mid-September 2008 or has information about the Ua Noa, please share what is known.