Lockdowns lifted at 4 Kauai schools

UPDATE: 1 p.m.

The Hawaii Department of Education will be sending a letter home to parents and guardians today regarding the lockdowns at two Kauai high schools and one elementary school this morning.

The lockdown time for Kapaa High and Elementary lasted from 9:15 a.m. to 11:05 a.m. due to an alleged threat, according to the DOE. The lockdown time for Kauai High was from 10:17 a.m. to 11:31 a.m. due to a different alleged threat.

In a letter to parents and guardians, Kapaa High School principal Tommy Cox said school will be open tomorrow, with no change in schedule.

Police have since determined that the threats made toward the high schools were false.

“All threats to our school and students are taken seriously and investigated thoroughly,” said Cox in the letter. “Terroristic threats are considered Class A student conduct offenses. Penalties can range from detention to the possibility of arrest and serious criminal charges.”

Cox went on to commend staff, teachers, parents and students for their prompt response and cooperation during today’s incident.

UPDATE: 12 p.m.

The Kauai Police Department said it has determined the threats made today towards Kapaa and Kauai high schools were false.

Kauai police have, however, identified persons of interest at both Kapaa and Kauai high schools, and one individual has been detained. The investigation remains ongoing, police said.

Police were present at all four school campuses on lockdown this morning — Kauai High, Kapaa High, Kapaa Elementary, and St. Catherine School. Lockdowns at all four school campuses have been lifted, but parents should contact school officials directly for the latest updates.

UPDATE: 11:45 a.m.

DOE spokeswoman Lindsay Chambers says the lockdowns for Kapaa High School and Kapaa Elementary School were lifted as of 11:05 a.m. today.

A lockdown at Kauai High School this morning for a separate threat was also cleared at 11:31 a.m., according to the school’s online updates.

“The Kauai Police Department conducted an investigation and found no imminent threat,” Kauai High School said. “We have resumed our regular class schedule.”

Kauai High School went into lockdown at 10:17 a.m. today due to an anonymous threat made via text, according to the school. The school went into lockdown to ensure all students were safely inside during an investigation.

Kauai police said they are investigating the reports of unconfirmed threats made towards both Kauai and Kapaa High Schools, but that no active threat has been identified at this time.

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Three schools in Kapaa on Kauai are on lockdown this morning due to an alleged threat.

Kapaa High School posted online that as of 9:15 a.m., the school was in lockdown.

The message simply said: “Kapaa High School is in lockdown as of 9:15 a.m. Thursday Oct. 17. Please do not pick up your children. More info coming later.” A new message at 10 a.m. said: “Everyone here is safe and police are investigating.”

Kapaa Elementary School also posted online that it was in lockdown due to the high school situation.

“All students are safe,” said the school on its website. “Please do not come to campus. We will post information as we know more.”

DOE spokeswoman Lindsay Chambers said that the elementary school, which is a neighbor of the high school, was on lockdown as a precaution. Law enforcement is on site at the high school, conducting an investigation, she said.

“We want parents to be reassured that law enforcement is there,” she said, “and the safety of their child is of the utmost importance.”

She said notifications were sent out via the school messenger system, and will be used to communicate updates, including when the lockdown is lifted.

DOE Kauai Complex Area superintendent Bill Arakaki also sent out a notice that said: “The administration was made aware this morning of an alleged threat made towards Kapaa High School. The Kauai Police Department has been contacted and is currently investigating. Out of the abundance of caution, a security plan was initiated and Kapaa Elementary and Kapaa High Schools are currently in lockdown. For the safety of our students, staff, and law enforcement investigating the situation, we ask that parents do not come to campus to pick up their child.”

St. Catherine School, which is located near the other schools, is also currently on lockdown.

Kauai Police said officers will remain on all three campuses until the threat has been cleared.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

Letter to parents by Honolulu Star-Advertiser on Scribd