Momilani Elementary School has put one of its teachers on leave after learning that two former Punahou students, who are now adults, have accused him of sexually abusing them years ago.
Punahou’s president, Jim Scott, sent a letter to parents Saturday informing them that the former Punahou students reported being sexually abused by the former assistant girls basketball coach in 2005-2006 after he had left Punahou.
On Monday, Momilani Principal Doreen Higa sent a letter to parents about the situation because the coach has been working as a teacher on her campus.
“The Hawaii State Department of Education has recently learned of allegations against a former Punahou basketball coach (2001-2004) for incidents that allegedly occurred in School Year 2005-2006,” Higa wrote.
“This individual is currently a teacher employed at Momilani Elementary School,” she wrote. “The employee has been placed on leave and an investigation is underway.”
She added that the department conducts detailed background checks on all applicants before hiring them, and stressed that the administration and staff at Momilani are committed to their students’ safety.
The coach is not being named because the investigation is preliminary and no charges have been filed.
“We are shocked and disturbed by these allegations,” the Punahou president wrote in his letter to parents. “We are conducting an independent internal investigation and are committed to cooperating fully with the Honolulu Police Department. We are supporting our former students throughout this process by providing access to counseling.”
The teacher had been helping coach at the Hawaii Storm basketball club but is no longer doing so.
“Hawaii Storm takes these allegations seriously and the coach in question is no longer affiliated with Hawaii Storm,” Mike Taylor, who runs Hawaii Storm, said in a written statement.
