Summer surf camp
on Maui is closed
WAILUKU >> Sixteen children under the care of the state after their summer camp on Maui was closed have been released, said Derick Dahilig, spokesman for the state Department of Human Services.
Dahilig said yesterday that 11 of the children have left the Valley Isle, and the remaining five are either with their parents or with friends of their parents.
The children, ranging in age from 11 to 17, and from the United States and Australia, had been at an Aloha Adventures Camp, run by a private camp operator who had leased facilities at Camp Pi'iholo from the Girl Scouts Council of Hawaii.
The council's chief executive officer, Gail Mukaihata Hannemann, said her organization had leased the property to Aloha Adventures at various times in the last four years and had not received complaints until this year.
Jayne Gumpel, of Larchmont, N.Y., whose 16-year-old son, David, had participated in the first of the three-week surfing camp, said that before the closure the owner of Aloha Adventures, Llew Lazarus, was not conducting himself properly and was rude to camp counselors.
Gumpel said Lazarus has not returned her telephone calls.
Hannemann said that after receiving complaints Tuesday, her organization looked at the lease and realized that the Aloha Adventures Camp did not have a required $3 million insurance policy.
She said the camp was closed at 8 p.m. Wednesday.
"I know it's a disappointment to the children, but we were concerned about their safety and welfare," said Hannemann. "That's what weighed in our final decision."
Maui police Lt. Robert Hill said that once the camp was closed, the 16 juveniles did not have a responsible adult custodian and were turned over to the state Child Welfare Services Branch.
The children stayed at a hotel under state care until their parents were able to make arrangements for their release.
According to Aloha Adventures Camp's Web site, camp tuition is $1,150 per session, with each session about eight days.
Lazarus was unavailable for comment.