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COURTESY PHOTO
This screenshot taken from the video on Twitter depicts alleged abuse of a rooster.
Kamehameha Schools officials said they are investigating a video, circulated on social media, of two of the schools’ Maui students killing a rooster by kicking it and whacking it against a stone wall.
Kamehameha spokeswoman Liz Ahana confirmed to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that the boys in the video are Kamehameha students. One boy in the video wore a white polo shirt emblazoned with the Kamehameha Schools logo.
“We are aware of the unfortunate and deplorable actions taken by the individuals in the video,” Kamehameha Schools officials said in a statement released June 28. “Cruelty to animals is not acceptable, and not reflective of the values we uphold. We are investigating the incident and will take appropriate action upon conclusion of our investigation.”
At least one person posted the video on Twitter, calling it “appalling.”
A 16-year-old boy in the video responded on Twitter that he and his cousin did it on a dare to kill and eat a wild chicken. The teen implored the person who had posted the video to delete it.
“We didn’t know our friend was recording us killing it,” the student wrote. “Were (sic) really not lyke (sic) that, sorry to make you feel that way.”
A 39-year-old Diamond Head woman, who identified herself only as Chris, reported the video to the Star-Advertiser. She said she saw it after hearing about it on a morning radio show.
“It was horrific,” she said. “Those kids attacked the rooster for no reason. Animals shouldn’t be killed that way, even if you’re killing it to eat it. They tormented this rooster, basically. Even the DJs were shocked, horrified enough to post it on social media.”
Radio station Power 104.3’s operations manager said the video was quickly taken down.
Nancy Willis, director of development and community outreach at the Maui Humane Society, said the organization did not receive any complaints regarding the video.
“If you have verifiable information that this occurred on Maui, please call the Maui Humane Society at 877-3680, ext. 211 to file a report so it can be investigated,” she said.
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