Hannah Kobayashi, who was reported missing by her family only to be found safe, has said she was “unaware of everything that was happening in the media”.
The 30-year-old flew from Hawaii to Los Angeles early last month. She was intending to take another flight to New York on 8 November but missed her connection.
A search for the budding photographer was launched after her family said she vanished days later after sending them “alarming” texts. Los Angeles Police took over the case on 15 November, Sky News’ US partner network, NBC said.
Ms Kobayashi’s father, Ryan, flew out to LA to try to find her, along with other family members and volunteers.
In late November, he was found dead in a car park near LA International Airport after taking his own life, police and his family said.
On 11 December, Ms Kobayashi’s family said she had been “found safe”.
‘I am still processing it all’
In a statement on Monday, nearly a week after she was located, Ms Kobayashi said: “I was unaware of everything that was happening in the media while I was away, and I am still processing it all.”
She confirmed that she had returned to the US, but did not go into further details about her trip.
“My focus now is on my healing, my peace and my creativity,” the statement, which was distributed through her aunt, Larie Pidgeon, read.
“I am deeply grateful to my family and everyone who has shown me kindness and compassion during this time.”
During the search, police released video footage showing Ms Kobayashi walking into Mexico, 125 miles southeast of Los Angeles, on 12 November.
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Los Angeles police chief Jim McDonnell said there was no evidence she was trafficked or a victim of a crime and classified her disappearance as that of a “voluntary missing person”.
Ms Pidgeon said her niece had planned to travel to New York to tour museums and galleries as part of her goal of becoming an artist.
