Pawai was last seen inside her residence on Wainaku Street in Hilo, Hawaii during the evening hours of March 4, 1999. She has never been heard from again. Her wallet and pager were later found on the Wainaku Bridge. An extensive search of the area turned up no sign of her, however, and her disappearance was investigated as a probable suicide.

Authorities received several unconfirmed sightings of Pawai elsewhere in Hilo during the week following her disappearance. Her case remains unsolved.