Kokua Line: Alumni of closed private schools can seek transcripts from Hawaii association

Question: My daughter is an alumna of Saint Francis School. Due to the closure of the school, I was wondering what they are doing about the students’ records. Is there a way we can have them?

Q: How do I get my Saint Francis transcript? I live on the mainland now but would like a copy in case I need it for continuing education or employment. I graduated before it closed.

Answer: Alumni of the Manoa Catholic school can request a high school transcript from the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools. The nonprofit organization archives student records from numerous private schools that have closed over the past few decades, including Saint Francis, which shut down permanently at the end of this past school year.

“We can issue an official copy directly to a university or employer, or an unofficial copy for the person’s own records,” said Phil Bossert, HAIS executive director.

To request a transcript:

First, email HAIS staffer Kelley Rahn at krahn@hais.us to confirm that your record is available.

After you receive a confirmation email from HAIS, print, fill out and sign the Transcript Request form, which you can download at 808ne.ws/form.

The fee is $10 per transcript, cash or check only.

Mail the form and payment to HAIS, 200 N. Vineyard Blvd., Suite 401, Honolulu, HI 96817, Attn: Transcript Request.

Orders will be processed within five working days, not including mail delivery time. Orders are mailed using the U.S. Postal Service.

Find more information at 808ne.ws/haistran, on the HAIS website.

To be clear, use this method only to request high school transcripts from Hawaii private schools that have closed their doors for good. Alumni of schools that remain in operation should request transcripts directly from their alma maters.

Also, regarding high school students who were attending Saint Francis at the time it closed: The school said in April that it would send high school transcripts directly to the student’s next school if that destination was known by July 13. Only after that date was HAIS involved in issuing transcripts for those students.

Q: I watch those crime shows where they solve the “cold cases” from years ago that went unsolved. The process is interesting. Does HPD have a unit like that?

A: Yes. The Honolulu Police Department’s cold-case homicide detail describes some of its cases on the HPD website, at 808ne.ws/coldcases. It lists 23 unsolved apparent homicides on Oahu that occurred from 1965 to 2015. The victims ranged in age from 16 to 69. Anyone with information about any of the crimes is asked to share what they know with police.

Rail fare

If you care how much it will cost to ride Oahu’s future rail-transit system, now’s the time to speak up. The Honolulu Rate Commission is seeking public input on the subject at its meeting Tuesday from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the Mission Memorial Hearing Room at 550 S. King St., next to Honolulu Hale. The elevated rail system is expected to begin limited service in late 2020, according to the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation.

Write to Kokua Line at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.