Bomb sends
several students
to hospital

Officials warn of bombs made
from leftover fireworks

By Rod Ohira
Star-Bulletin

Post-New Year's fireworks play on Oahu is starting to turn ugly.

A homemade bomb exploded yesterday in a stairwell of Campbell High School's science/math building shortly after noon.

Ten students complaining of "ringing in the ear" were taken to St. Francis-West Hospital, where half of them refused treatment.

Hospital spokeswoman Andrea Fukushima said the other students, including one girl who suffered minor cuts, were treated and released.

"With the surplus of fireworks at this time of year, there's the opportunity and temptation to create homemade bombs," said Detective James Kawakami, an explosives expert who handles police post-blast investigation.

"But when you set it off on school grounds, that's too much."

Campbell Principal Louis Vierra says there have been at least six explosions on campus since students returned to school Monday.

"We're experiencing what we experience every New Year," Vierra said. "School starts and the bombs go off.

"What it says is, there's too much junk out there (left over from New Year's celebrations). We have 2,300 kids at this school, and only a few of them are doing it."

Vierra planned to address the student body today about the dangers of homemade explosives.

"Kids have learned to make pretty potent bombs from sparklers," Vierra said. "When it goes off, it makes a loud, beastly sound."

Police have no suspects in the case.

"Once it goes off, it's hard to catch those responsible," Vierra said.

Specialized Services Division bomb technicians went to Campbell about 8 a.m. yesterday and recovered a "sparkler" bomb in the possession of some students, who said they found it on campus.

There are similarities between the bomb recovered yesterday at the school and one thrown into an unoccupied Roberts Hawaii tour bus, parked at the company's facility at 91-230 Old Fort Weaver Road in Ewa, said Specialized Services Division Capt. Doug Miller.

The Department of Education is seeking public assistance in identifying the suspects and plans to set up a hot line to receive information, said spokesman Greg Knudsen.

School administrators, assisted by police, will conduct searches for explosive devices before and after school, he added.