Whatever Happened To . . .

An update on past news

By Harold Morse
Star-Bulletin

Wednesday, April 24, 1996

'Kick me' case has been dropped

Question: What ever happened to the Mililani High School teacher accused of dressing a boy as a girl and tying him to a tree for not completing homework? The boy's parents filed suit to prevent the teacher from further contact with students.


Answer: A lawsuit filed by parents Gary and Jo-Ann Zukeran was dismissed early last summer. The lawsuit had claimed that Ammon Zukeran, 15, was forced on Feb. 3, 1994, to wear signs made by other students that said "kick me" and "I am a fag." The suit named as defendants Japanese language teacher Kurumi Kaapana-Aki, principal Byron Yoshina and the Department of Education. It was dismissed against all defendants.

"The facts were not as alleged. It didn't happen," said Eric Seitz, Kaapana-Aki's attorney.

"The plaintiffs voluntarily agreed to dismiss the case. There was no payment; there was no settlement."

The Zukerans declined comment.

Media reports had quoted the student's family, but Kaapana-Aki was advised by a union representative not to make a statement, Seitz said. "They only had one version of the events, and that's why it got blown up so substantially," he said.

Kaapana-Aki, who now teaches seventh grade at Wheeler Intermediate School, transferred to Wahiawa Intermediate after the alleged incident and was honored by students there. "That was really gratifying and showed that I do have credibility as a teacher and academician," she said this week.

Reports at the time of the alleged incident "had painted me out to be a real cruel, unusual person, which I am not."


Ever wonder what happened to a person, event or issue that has been in the news? We'll try to find out for you if you call the City Desk at 525-8640, email to citydesk@starbulletin.com or write us at P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu 96802. Whatever happened to . . . runs Wednesdays.



Text Site Directory: [News] [Business] [Features] [Sports] [Editorial] [Community] [Info] [Stylebook] [Feedback]