Recurring plumbing problems at Kealakehe Elementary in north Kailua-Kona have teachers saying enough is enough after a third-grade classroom was left soaked this week, with several students reporting nausea from the smell.
Staff say ceiling panels gave way as water leaked into the room, puddling near light fixtures while a strong, foul odor brought lessons to a halt. One educator described watching students try to focus as water crept across the floor and the stench lingered.
At a Friday press conference organized by the Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association, teachers laid out photos and a detailed timeline of incidents, saying custodial staff removed damaged ceiling tiles and cleaned parts of the room but that the underlying problems remain. Teacher Rabayah Akhter told Big Island Now that a ceiling panel began leaking while students were in class and later described the odor as "wet with a bit of fecal matter."
Union Presents Months-Long Timeline
Union leaders say this latest mess is only the most visible flare-up in a years-long plumbing saga. Educators report that multiple repair requests filed this fall have gone largely unanswered, even as the leaks continue.
According to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, at least 15 teachers earlier this year submitted formal testimony detailing repeated leaks and visible building decay. The union argues that the paper trail shows this is not a one-off incident but a long-running facilities problem that has been allowed to drag on.
State Response And Cleanup
The Hawaiʻi State Department of Education is pushing back on the most alarming rumors. Officials told reporters that the liquid involved in this week’s incident was clear water, not sewage, and that custodial staff contained and cleaned the affected area before students returned to class the following day.
A department spokesperson said a work order has been submitted so state staff can further investigate the source of the leak. The DOE also told Big Island Now that it has not received official reports of illness connected to the incident.
Why Repairs Lag
Teachers and union officials say the real culprit is the state’s multi-layered repair system. Schools must route facilities requests through the Department of Accounting and General Services, a process that they say can stretch into weeks or months even when leaks are affecting classrooms full of kids.
The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported that DAGS made a partial repair after teachers submitted testimony, but major fixes such as full plumbing replacement in aging buildings are still not on the calendar. For educators, that means crossing their fingers every time heavy rain or a new leak hits.
Community Impact And Next Steps
Kealakehe Elementary serves roughly 900 students, according to Public School Review, and teachers say that when a single building goes down, the ripple effects are immediate. Classes get shuffled, lessons are cut short and families are left wondering what exactly is going on inside the walls.
HSTA has requested an informal grievance meeting with school administrators. Teachers say they want a clear timeline for comprehensive repairs and more transparent communication with families whenever plumbing failures force changes to the school day.
