Two girls, one with Down syndrome, were safe and at home in Mo'ili'ili yesterday after having wandered off for four hours.

The girls were playing with bubbles on the sidewalk, and walked away when the mother of one girl went to pull a pizza from the oven, family members said.

Police issued an all-points bulletin, the police helicopter was called in, an ambulance stood by and neighbors of the girls, 8 and 11 years old, joined in the search.

Albert H. Furuto, an actor and stuntman, heard of the missing girls when searchers passed through an area park.

He got into his car and, after a while, spotted the 8-year-old, who told him she was looking for her friend who had wanted to buy a pet from "the place with dogs in fences."

Furuto took the 8-year-old to the home of the 11-year-old, picked up a family member and her friend, and took all three to the Hawaiian Humane Society.

They found the older girl, who has Down syndrome, looking at animals and talking to a humane society volunteer.

She was home before 4:30 p.m.

"Thanks are not necessary because it made me feel so good," Furuto said when Sheila Palesano, the sister of one of the girls, and Cathrine Lee, the mother of the other, expressed their appreciation.

Police Officer Zenis Ondayog called the situation a happy ending. Sgt. Mike Nakada said he'd have to get gas because he logged so many miles in the search.

But the 8-year-old didn't seem that impressed with the search.

"Give it a rest," she said when told to be careful in the future. "I've been wanting to escape forever, and this is my first time to go off by myself — ever."

Reach Karen Blakeman at kblakeman@honoluluadvertiser.com.