Bomb warning A bomb threat that Honolulu police initially reported as covering all Oahu public schools put parents and school employees on edge yesterday, but police later clarified that the threat was neither credible nor so widespread.
to schools overstated
After all schools are alerted,
HPD clarifies the threat was
against an Oahu high school
By Susan Essoyan
sessoyan@starbulletin.com
Just before school let out on Wednesday, police informed the Department of Education that an anonymous caller to 911 had said that a bomb had been planted at a public school on Oahu and would go off within three days.
Teachers immediately began checking their classrooms, and officials scoured campuses at all 178 public schools on the island, from elementary through high school. The searches resumed before school yesterday but uncovered nothing suspicious, and classes were held as usual.
At 5 p.m. yesterday, police spokeswoman Michelle Yu amended the report to clarify that the threat was against a high school. She would not reveal which one or explain why police had first described it as a broad threat to any public school on the island.
"As with any threatening incident, a case has been opened and detectives are investigating," she said. "Upon further investigation, the caller did refer to a high school. Initial findings suggest that the threat is not credible. Threats are received throughout the school year, and each one is looked into."
That clarification, however, came too late for the schools, which had already sent home letters alerting parents to the threat, trying to assure them that the schools were safe, and giving them the option of keeping their children home today.
"It's been a trying day," Deputy Schools Superintendent Clayton Fujie said after getting the police update. "But thinking positive, this allows us to review all our procedures, including how we inform the schools and the parents."
All threats are taken seriously by authorities, but bomb threats against specific schools typically are pranks and are not publicized. In this case, however, because the threat was first thought to be islandwide, Fujie took the unusual step of calling a press conference yesterday to reassure people and combat rumors.
"We want all of you to know that our schools are safe, and our schools are open, and A+ is open," Fujie said. "The schools will continue to monitor the situation."
He said the Department of Education had received calls from concerned parents, and the uneasy world situation might also have heightened anxiety.
A few parents who had heard about the threat decided to pick up their kids early from school. At Kailua Elementary School, for example, Principal Lanelle Hibbs said about seven students were picked up early yesterday out of a student body of 570.
"I feel confident that we have a safe place," she said.
The military offered to use its bomb-sniffing dogs at schools on and near military bases, and several schools took them up on it. The Marine Corps Base Hawaii reported that military police took dog teams to check Aikahi Elementary, Mokapu Elementary, Kainalu Elementary, Kalaheo High School and Castle High.
At McKinley High School, Vice Principal John Hammond said no students had gone home early yesterday, and he anticipated normal school operations today. The school has an evacuation plan in place, if need be.
"We've been keeping an eye out for anything unusual," he said. "I don't think we can allow ourselves to be so scared that everything comes to a halt."
High school students seemed to take the threat in stride.
Sam Tiitii, a senior at Farringto, said it caused a bit of buzz among students who thought school might be canceled.
"A lot of students felt it's just a joke, someone just playing stupid," he said.
Tiitii had no qualms about attending school today.
"If it happens, it happens," he said, "but I don't think it's going to happen."
State Department of Education