Accused teacher had resumed coaching

Waipahu High School’s track coach was back at school organizing practice Wednesday after he appeared in court earlier in the day, charged with three counts of sexually assaulting one of his female runners over two years.

The girl, a senior, continues to run as a member of the Marauders’ track and field team because she hopes to do well enough to earn a college scholarship after qualifying for the state finals in cross-country this year, her father said.

"I tried to talk her out of running (because of the allegations), but she’s been running since she was a freshman," the girl’s father said Wednesday. "Running’s her passion."

Department of Education officials said late Wednesday night that teacher and track and field and cross-country coach Erik Y. Tamura, 37, of Wahiawa will be placed on paid leave as of today. The girl’s father has questioned why Tamura has been allowed to continue to supervise the girl he allegedly sexually assaulted over a two-year period.

Tamura turned himself in to Honolulu police Friday, was charged with three counts of third-degree sexual assault and released on $30,000 bail Saturday,and has been working at Waipahu High School this week.

Tamura made his initial court appearance on Wednesday and is scheduled to appear in District Court again on March 5.

In a brief cellphone conversation Wednesday, Tamura told the Star-Advertiser that he was preparing for practice and could not comment until this afternoon.

The girl’s father said he learned about the allegations against Tamura in October, but that the alleged assaults go back to 2010, when his daughter was a 15-year-old member of Waipahu High’s cross-country team.

The father said Tamura and the girl were flying to Oregon for a meet when Tamura allegedly began rubbing the girl’s thigh and reached up to her crotch.

In another instance, the girl was showering alone in the Waipahu High School girl’s locker room after a workout and kept her bathing suit on because she was worried Tamura would come into the locker room, the father said.

Tamura did enter the girl’s locker room and asked why the girl was still wearing clothing, the father said.

In a third alleged incident, Tamura brought the girl home before practice began and placed his head against her rear end, pulled her pants down and groped her, the father said.

The Star-Advertiser is not naming the girl or her father because she is a minor and remains on the track team.

After he learned about the allegations, the girl’s father in October contacted Waipahu High School Vice Principal Corinne Fujieda, who told the father she would conduct a "full investigation," according to the father.

But with Tamura still at Waipahu High School coaching his daughter, the girl’s father in December went to Honolulu police, who began an investigation.

On Friday, Tamura turned himself in at the main police station on Beretania Street.

The following day, the girl’s family received a registered letter signed by Waipahu Principal Keith Hayashi saying the school’s investigation concluded that "Erik Tamura did not engage in inappropriate conduct," did not violate Board of Education policies regarding student safety and welfare, and did not violate anti-harassment, bullying or discrimination practices.

This week the father emailed each member of the state Board of Education asking why Tamura was back at school.

The father said he received an email Wednesday from the Board of Education saying he will get a response from DOE officials "once they have finished their internal inquiries."

The father previously had called schools Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi and was told to call Waipahu High School’s district office, which told him to call the school.

Sandra Goya, DOE spokeswoman, said Wednesday night: "The department takes all allegations regarding sexual assault seriously.

"It is important to note that Waipahu High school officials had recently concluded an internal school investigation. However, pending further information from law enforcement, the employee has been placed on department-directed leave.

"With that said, complex area superintendent Norman Pang will be conducting a review of the actions taken by school officials in regards to the employee’s recent arrest."

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Star-Advertiser reporter Gordon Y.K. Pang contributed to this report.