Kaiser High disavows connection to planned carnival

Kaiser High School’s principal said neither the school nor its football team is sponsoring an upcoming carnival in Hawaii Kai.

"Kaiser is not sponsoring this carnival," said Principal Justin Mew, adding that the high school does not have any contractual agreements with Kame­ha­meha Schools, E.K. Fernandez Shows or Hawaii Speed and Quickness.

Mew said he told Kaiser football coach Rich Miano, head of the nonprofit Hawaii Speed and Quickness holding the fundraising event, to refrain from attaching the name of the school or its football team to the carnival this month in Hawaii Kai.

"This is not a fundraiser for the school," Mew said.

The planned carnival in Hawaii Kai to benefit two youth programs has stirred community concerns of traffic and pedestrian safety.

Hawaii Speed and Quickness is holding the event to benefit the organization, which provides sports training and mentoring for youth.

Mew said he supports the carnival as a community function, but stressed that it’s not a school-sponsored event.

Miano said the event aims to benefit both the organization and football team.

The organization would make a large donation specifically to the school’s football team for equipment such as new lockers and uniforms, said Miano.

The carnival is slated for two weekends, March 14-16 and March 21-23, on a strip of preservation-zoned land across from Mau­na­lua Bay between Hawaii Kai Drive and Kea­hole Street along Kalanianaole Highway.

So far, the city Department of Transportation Services has received a permit request from E.K. Fernandez Shows for the use of the Park and Ride along Kea­hole Street.

Director Michael Formby said, "We’re trying to determine if any process was taken and whether the community had a chance to weigh in."

The Transportation Department received a handful of phone calls from community members who expressed frustration that a process wasn’t followed to inform the community about the carnival.

A permit would be issued on the condition the organization consulted with the Hawaii Kai Neighborhood Board as well as the Farmer’s Market and the Hawaii Kai Dog Park located along Kea­hole Street to address any concerns, he said.

Formby said the department is concerned about the Park and Ride, where buses stop and pick up passengers.

"We have to make sure they accommodate passengers," he said. "Right now we’re holding a permit. It hasn’t been issued. We’re still receiving information."

Officials with E.K. Fernandez Shows could not be reached for comment.

Miano said the company is following the proper protocol concerning the permit process.

He said it appears the situation is becoming a big issue for a few people while 90 percent of the community is excited about having the carnival.

Mew said event representatives recently met with Vice Principal Sachi Matsu­­shita for possible use of the school’s parking lot for carnival attendees to use.

The school provided its rates and has yet to hear back from E.K. Fernandez.

Curtis Lum, spokes­man of the Department of Planning and Permitting, said a permit to hold the carnival on the parcel owned by Kame­ha­meha Schools is not required because use of the site for the event is considered temporary.

The department did issue an electrical permit to E.K. Fernandez on Feb. 14 for the carnival.