Kailua’s Kalaheo High School turned into something out of a bug-lover’s nightmare this week, as students said thousands of millipedes crawled over ceilings, walls, roofs and even into the gym. Videos shot by students show thick clusters along outdoor walkways and gym floors, turning routine class changes into a squirm-inducing obstacle course while custodial staff and pest crews hustled to respond.
According to Hawaii News Now, some students called the situation "really gross," reporting millipedes on jackets and across classroom floors. The Hawaiʻi State Department of Education told Hawaii News Now that "the problem has dramatically decreased" since treatment began and said custodians are still watching the campus closely for any new activity.
What crews did and why it happened
Kilauea Pest Control came in on Tuesday and sprayed the infested areas with a long-lasting product that is expected to push the millipedes out over the next two to three weeks. The company plans to return in about 30 days to reassess the situation. Jimmy Fitzgerald of Kilauea told Hawaii News Now that recent Kona low storms brought unusually heavy rain and left nearby slopes saturated, likely driving the millipedes into campus buildings in search of drier ground. He described the insecticide they used as "people and pet-friendly" and said it is less toxic than standard household bleach, Hawaii News Now reported.
Who treated the school
Kilauea Pest Control, which lists millipedes among the pests it targets, promotes integrated pest management and low-impact products and notes that it is certified to work at Department of Education sites. Kalāheo High School is the Windward Oʻahu public high school in Kailua, and school staff say custodians will continue to keep an eye on the grounds. Background details on the company and the campus are available from Kilauea Pest Control and the school’s page on the Hawaiʻi State Department of Education website.
Why millipedes appear after storms
Millipedes typically live in soil and leaf litter and are known to surface in big numbers during extended wet spells. When the ground is saturated after heavy rain, they often head for drier, sheltered areas like building eaves and gym roofs. Extension experts say thousands of millipedes can migrate from soaked slopes and that simple steps such as vacuuming, cutting back mulch around building foundations and sealing gaps can reduce the chance of repeat invasions. Guidance on millipede behavior and basic control measures is available from the University of Wisconsin Extension.
Students say they just want the pests gone, while custodial staff are keeping a close watch on the hillside behind campus as Kilauea prepares to return in about a month to reevaluate. Officials report that millipede numbers have dropped since the initial treatment and say they are ready to act quickly if the swarms make a comeback.
