Mayor calls for accountability and community respect following an altercation involving players and spectators and a reported firearm threat.
KAUAʻI — Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami is condemning violence that occurred during Saturday’s homecoming football game between Kapaʻa High School and Waimea High School, calling on residents to set a better example for the island’s youth.
In a statement issued following the Oct. 24 game, Kawakami expressed concern over an altercation involving players and spectators, as well as a reported threat involving a firearm.
“What happened at Saturday’s football game is unacceptable and not who we are as a Kaua‘i community,” Kawakami said. “A high school football game should be a place where our students can compete, our families can come together, and our community can show its support for one another.”
The mayor’s statement follows an announcement from the Kauaʻi Police Department regarding its investigation into a social media post allegedly threatening to bring a firearm to a high school football game.
According to KPD, officers made contact with those involved in the reported threat, and one individual was detained. The investigation was subsequently forwarded to the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney for review.
Kawakami emphasized that school pride and athletic competition should never come at the expense of safety or mutual respect.
“We can be passionate about our schools, proud of our teams, and competitive on the field while still treating one another with respect,” he said. “Our keiki are watching us, and the example we set matters.”
The mayor also called on parents and other adults to take responsibility for the behavior they demonstrate at school sporting events.
“Kaua‘i is built on aloha, respect, and looking out for one another. We cannot allow a youth sporting event to become a place where people fear for their safety,” Kawakami said.
He urged residents to hold one another accountable and remember their shared responsibility to protect the island’s children.
KPD has reiterated that threats of violence involving schools, students, staff or school-related activities will be investigated and that appropriate enforcement action will be pursued.
Source: Office of Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami and Kauaʻi Police Department