Off-campus Fights Have Adults Talking
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Del.icio.usDisturbances from fights occurring off the Castle High School campus on Ihilani Street have residents concerned and school staff alert. Recent incidents also were aired on YouTube and reported on the TV news.
Principal Meredith Maeda and his staff care about their students’ safety, but he said it’s difficult to handle when the fights happen outside school property.
“When we know prior who the students are, we always try to intervene and mediate the situation before anything physical occurs,” said Maeda.“Once the students leave campus it is very difficult for us to control their actions.”
Residents also are concerned and a bit angry about the degree of police attention. Oftentimes officers arrive after the fights break up, they said, when there’s slim visible evidence and little that officers can do other than clear the street of the hordes of teen spectators.
One frustrated Ihilani Street resident pointed out in an e-mail to the Windward Islander that students involved in fighting were told by an officer, “‘Well, what are we gonna do about it?’
“The students crowd the roads,” she wrote, “walking around smoking their marijuana like it is legal. By the time HPD shows up it is too late. We are disappointed in the HPD and don’t know where else to ask for help.”
According to Maeda, Castle and HPD have a working relationship, and they meet throughout the year to discuss issues such as fighting.
“Once a quarter, the school and the community have safety meetings with HPD, including Sgt. Duane Samson, to discuss issues like this,“Maeda explained.“If we do have knowledge of a fight that might take place and we cannot control it, we make the appropriate phone calls to the police.”
Kaneohe Neighborhood Board discussed the issue last month, and member Patty Yamashiro told the Islander, “We were able to get a report from HPD, and they notified us that they would be stepping in regarding the disturbances reported.
“Neighbors should report anything suspicious directly to the police,” she added.
Also at the Kaneohe board meeting, state Rep. Pono Chong said that the same students that are involved in these fights may also have been involved in fights at King Intermediate a few years ago. Chong also commented that some parents may have encouraged the fighting.
Police Sgt. Samson has met with administrators, town officials and community members, stating to the Islander that a few arrests have been made and the Community Policing Team in District 4 (Windward) has invited the community to start a Citizen’s Patrol group.
“We will continue to provide information to the students of Castle High School about personal safety,” Samson said, adding that “the fights have stopped since we’ve met with the student body.”
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