School bans 5
from grad ceremony

The Kapaa seniors admitted
to painting graffiti on buildings

KAPAA, Kauai » Five Kauai high school seniors are banned from walking with their classmates at tonight's graduation ceremony after they admitted to painting graffiti on campus buildings.

The five Kapaa High School students apologized, put posters up around school saying they were sorry and put their skills to good use by painting new lines on the parking stalls in the student parking lot.

Classmates and friends also lobbied on their behalf, but Principal Gilmore Youn, who made the decision not to allow the five students to participate in the commencement ceremony, would not change his mind.

The punishment would allow them to graduate. Names of the five male students were not released by the school.

The graffiti painting occurred over three days last week. Some students say it has been a tradition in recent years for seniors to paint their graduating year atop one of the campus buildings.

The boys left their initials on the roof and in other places on campus, Youn said.

"It's the worst case of desecration I've seen in my 35 years here," he said.

Some of the teens were caught on Sunday by campus security officers, Youn said.

The boys bragged to other students and teachers about what they had done, and only expressed remorse after being told they could not walk at graduation, he said.

"I see the arrogance in this whole issue," he said.

Youn has the backing of the state Department of Education. Daniel Hamada, superintendent for Kauai, said he reviewed the cases after several family members contacted him.

"Graffiti at the school is serious," said Hamada, who said the disciplinary action was appropriate.

Youn has ordered a fence to be built to secure the campus when school is not in session, and is also considering installing surveillance cameras.

Youn noted that had he called the police and had the boys arrested, they would have been suspended and left with a police record.

Senior Nani Saffer admitted to being on school grounds at least one of the three days when the graffiti painting took place, but is being allowed to participate in today's ceremony after Youn's investigation found she did not take part in the painting.

She has been trying to convince the principal to allow the boys to join the ceremony, and noted that one of the boys has family flying in from Tonga for the graduation.

"Seeing these boys fight for their graduation rights has been devastating," she said. "Without your best friends at your side, graduation doesn't seem as special."