Kahuku's vandalism troubles stadium

Officials nearly ban the reigning state football champion from the facility's locker rooms

Aloha Stadium threatened to revoke locker room privileges for state football champion Kahuku High School because feces was smeared on the shower walls.

Stadium officials also said fans -- in the Punahou and Kahuku sections -- damaged seats during the state championship game earlier this month.

However, after stadium management met with Kahuku High School administrators and Hawaii High School Athletic Association Executive Director Keith Amemiya yesterday afternoon, an agreement was reached to allow the school to continue to use the locker room, said Aloha Stadium spokesman Patrick Leonard.

Leonard said the state champions apologized for what happened, and the Hawaii High School Athletic Association will pay $1,200 to fix the seats that were damaged.

It "was a positive, productive meeting," Windward District Superintendent Lea Albert said.

She said measures will be taken to ensure there are no further problems.

Kahuku High School's principal, athletic director and coach, and Amemiya did not return calls asking for comment yesterday afternoon.

Stadium Authority board members raised the issue yesterday morning after learning about it in this month's report from the stadium director.

Board members would not describe the condition of the locker room during their meeting, citing public sensitivity.

GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM Kahuku beat Punahou for the state football title Dec. 2 at Aloha Stadium. Kahuku has apologized after feces were found smeared on the shower walls of its designated locker room.

Leonard said whoever did it needs to think about the person who has to clean up after them.

"They (stadium custodians) felt so humiliated to have to clean it up," he said.

Board member Marsha Klompus suggested that coaches and players be reminded that they should leave the locker room in the same condition they found it.

"They (players) are not in the locker room by themselves," Klompus said. "There is adult supervision there."

Board members also asked what stadium management was doing to prevent future incidents.

This year, 17 seats were damaged because fans were jumping on them -- nine seats in the Punahou section and eight in the Kahuku section.

About 30 to 40 seats were damaged two years ago during the Kahuku/Saint Louis championship football game, Leonard said. The stadium was not reimbursed for the repair costs at that time, he said.

Leonard said new stadium manager Kenneth Lum took quick action after this year's incidents because of the previous damage.

He said fans were repeatedly warned during the game not to jump on the seats.

Albert said it can be difficult to monitor a crowd of about 25,000, even though administrators and teachers are present.

"It would be very hard to ascribe the damage to either school," Albert said. "But we don't want things damaged."

She added that the public schools will continue to work with the community to prevent future damage.

Leonard also added that as a result of yesterday's meeting, the Oahu Interscholastic Association and the Interscholastic League of Honolulu will be talking with their members about monitoring behavior in the locker room and fan behavior in the stands.