LIHU‘E — Like any educator, Kaua‘i High School Principal Linda Smith wants her students in class. But early Wednesday morning she found it necessary to keep the entire 1,150 member student body at home after a custodian discovered bomb threats
LIHU‘E — Like any educator, Kaua‘i High School Principal Linda Smith wants her students in class.
But early Wednesday morning she found it necessary to keep the entire 1,150 member student body at home after a custodian discovered bomb threats in graffiti splashed along the campus’ classroom walls, cafeteria and library.
“Safety is our number one issue,” Smith said Wednesday afternoon at the empty school.
Classes will be back in session today.
The principal, who dealt with a similar bomb threat last Thursday, informed Complex Area Superintendent Bill Arakaki of the second bomb scare and he called state education officials to get permission to close down the school.
“Because of the incident that occurred last Thursday and the one this morning, it was decided the best action to do was close school,” said Arakaki, who found the situation unfortunate.
“We cannot have this kind of disruption in our schools.”
He noted that the bomb scare resulted in the first school closure of this type for Kaua‘i schools.
By 6:15 a.m., Kaua‘i police investigators had swarmed the school in search of explosives and closed Lala Road, while buses were directed to forgo picking up their usual loads of students.
Meanwhile staff members went to the school’s evacuation site at Nawiliwili Park where they waited in case any students or buses arrived.
Among those reporting to Nawiliwili Park were custodians who were at school when the graffiti was found.
“It was our supervisor who discovered the graffiti,” said one of the custodians. “I did not get to see it, but from what I heard, it was on buildings different from the ones hit last week.”
The custodial staff said following last week’s graffiti and vandalism, it was the school’s custodians who painted over the mess.
“We’re just waiting in case we have to go back to work,” the custodian said.
Police called off the bomb threat at about 11:20 a.m. but remained on campus for hours while they conducted their investigation. They reopened Lala Road just before 1 p.m. and at 2:30 p.m. gave an “all clear” for the high school, a Department of Education press release states.
Smith thanked police for their support and quick response.
“I’m just totally amazed,” she said.
In addition to the graffiti — similar in nature to that found at the school last week — county spokeswoman Sarah Blane said vandalism also included a broken window to a storage building.
Because the investigation is ongoing police will not disclose any possible suspects. However, they are seeking the public’s help in identifying anyone who may be involved.
Smith, Arakaki and Vice Principal Penny Vess said they don’t know if a student, past student or other person is behind the two incidents.
“It’s very unfortunate that everyone has to go through this,” Vess said.
If students are involved, Smith said they would likely be suspended and could face charges.
“Most students know the severity of being caught,” she said, adding that she could not speculate on the nature of the culprit.
Anyone with information about this investigation is urged to call Det. Bernard Purisima at 241-1682, Police Dispatch, 241-1711, or Crime Stoppers, 241-1887.
