WAIKOLOA VILLAGE — More than 40 parents, teachers and students met Thursday night at Waikoloa Village Elementary and Middle School, ready to erase crude words and images that covered the buildings’ walls and playground.
The graffiti was found several days earlier by administrators who called the police to the scene to report the vandalism. An investigation is still underway, according to Sgt. Erich Jackson.
“Imagine my surprise when I walked onto campus last Monday morning and saw four buildings had been vandalized with horribly graphic graffiti,” Stephanie Landers said, Waikoloa Elementary and Middle School’s PTSA president. “The school was horribly vandalized with awful graffiti on Sunday night or Monday morning.”
Out of respect for the school administration and police investigation, PTSA members waited for formal permission to proceed with Thursday’s volunteer cleanup. In the meantime, they covered the offensive language and pictures with paper and signs. One read, “I want my school to be clean, great and safe.”
“We were also able to get the graffiti off of the playground equipment so summer camp kids could continue to play outside,” Landers said. “The Waikoloa community has been so supportive. Our Waikoloa Trading Post Facebook page really helped spread the word.”
This wasn’t the first time the school had been vandalized. Last summer bathroom doors were kicked in week after week, according to Landers. During the school year, irrigation was pulled up and broken on the open campus.
“To help stop this we believe parent involvement is key,” she said. “What has happened isn’t a reflection of our school, but we do have a growing community.”
Unfortunately, here is no police station in Waikoloa Village.
“We’re trying to raise community awareness and come together ourselves to help turn a bad situation around. It’s a great way for parents to show their children and students how to be constructive rather than destructive,” Landers said. “We know that when we did the cleanup, the kids who did the graffiti may have been watching.”
Amber Schreiber, the school counselor, also played a key role in the cleanup effort.
“When people see suspicious behaviors they need to confront them or call the police,” Landers said. “If they know the children they should call their parents, too. We’re all passionate about making a difference in the village. That showed at the cleanup.”
Police ask anyone who may have witnessed the incident or have any other information about it to contact Officer Clarence Yee at the Waimea police station at 887-3080 or call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300.