Mark Cajski was a college student attending University of Hilo in Hawaii. He took an early phone call, left his apartment with his snorkeling gear and was never seen again. Could this phone call uncover answers in Mark’s disappearance?

Mark Cajski was studying cellular and molecular biology at University of Hilo in Hawaii he excelled in his studies, and had a profound love for the outdoors. Mark often spent his time in nature and loved to go fishing, snorkeling, camping or diving with his friends. His friends described him as one of the ‘nicest guys you’ll ever meet”.

The day Mark went missing

Mark was last seen on Wednesday, July 10, 1996 by his roommate, Robert Speaker who overheard Mark on the phone around 6:00 am. Speaker was unsure who Mark was chatting with, what was discussed or the overall tone of the discussion. But once the call ended—sometime between 6:00 am and 7:00 am— Mark left the house with his snorkeling gear and fishing pole.

Three hours later, Mark did not attend his regularly scheduled class—which was highly unlike him. However, a witness claims that they saw Mark driving his car out of the dorm parking lot sometime between 10:00 am and noon on July 10. This sighting has not been confirmed by police. On July 11, 1996, Mark was reported missing that evening after he never returned home.

The search effort

By Friday, July 12, his parents would be informed by law enforcement that their son was reported missing. Mark’s family went to Hawaii to aid the search. Around 6:00 pm on July 13, Mark’s brother, Michael, would discover Mark’s abandoned grayish-white 1972 Toyota Land Cruiser with an Idaho license plate in a gravel parking lot at Anaehoomalu Beach near the Waikoloa Hotel. At the time of Mark’s disappearance he was taking care of a friend’s car—hence the Idaho license plate. Police continued to focus their search efforts along the South Kohala coastal area.

By Sunday, July 14, Mark’s backpack, where he kept his wallet, was recovered not far from where his car was discovered. However, Mark’s snorkeling gear and fishing pole have not been recovered. The Big Island fire department continued to search along the shoreline as well as underwater. However, two days later on July 18, the search would be halted. On August 9, 1996, Big Island police renewed their request after receiving multiple phone calls from people who claimed to see Mark at various spots throughout the state.

Where the case stands today

While Mark’s case remains unsolved, his family has not given up hope. There are still many unanswered questions surrounding Mark’s disappearance:

Was he kidnapped? Is it possible the ocean was too strong that day? Could the phone call between Mark and the unidentified caller be connected to his disappearance?

Mark Kamaki Cajski is a 20 year old multi-racial man with brown hair, brown eyes and weighs approximately 160-170 pounds. Mark may have had a mustache, beard or goatee and his hair may have been short.