KAILUA-KONA — Kealakehe Intermediate School is currently investigating a physical dispute that happened on the school’s campus Thursday after school hours.
Kealakehe Intermediate principal Joyce Crisafi said the incident happened at the end of the school day in the area of campus where students wait to be picked up from school by buses and guardians.
Crisafi said the issue began after an argument between two students which then became a larger episode due to the number of students in the area at the time.
Crisafi said no students suffered any serious injuries and the school is still investigating the number of students involved.
“Were people pushed? Yes. Were words spoken and yelled from one to the other? Yes,” Crisafi said. “Typical words and language you would hear on a middle school campus. That doesn’t mean it’s appropriate, but it’s typical language.”
The Hawaii Police Department was notified of the disruptive incident at the school. The police department said no arrests were made.
Crisafi said the entire incident lasted between 20-25 minutes, and the police were called to have additional adults on campus.
A statement released by the state Department of Education said police and additional security were present on the campus Friday before and after school and during lunch hours out of caution. In addition to working with the police, school administration have consulted the Department of Education’s Safety and Security Branch to ensure the campus is safe.
When school resumes Monday, Crisafi said the school will still have additional adults on campus for security as a precaution.