UH Hilo plans to require security measures at large events held by facilities users after student altercations at the Oct. 17 Pacific Youth Empowerment for Success (PacYES) conference. Kalei Rapoza, the university’s vice chancellor for administrative affairs, told the Hawaii Tribune-Herald that the university had followed up with conference organizers and its planning committee. The newspaper also reported that the Department of Education’s inquiry had concluded and that four students faced disciplinary action; a DOE spokesman declined to provide details, citing student privacy.
Police reports and investigations
The arrest information changed as the case developed. In its initial report, West Hawaii Today reported that Rapoza said two people had been arrested. The later Tribune-Herald account said a 17-year-old boy was arrested and charged with harassment; his name was not released because he is a minor. Hawaii Island police were separately investigating alleged second-degree assault after reports that students pulled a teacher’s hair. The Tribune-Herald reported that police spokeswoman Denise Laitinen said in late October that no suspects had been named and no arrests had been made in that investigation.
Teacher’s allegations
The account of the conference from Tiffany Edwards Hunt, a Keaau Middle School teacher who attended as a chaperone, comes from a letter described by the Tribune-Herald, not from independent confirmation in this article. The newspaper reported that she raised concerns about student supervision and event safety, and described physical altercations and injuries involving teachers. It also reported her account that disruption began during the film screening and continued after students moved to the parking area. These remain allegations in her letter; the separate police investigation had not named suspects, according to the newspaper.
Conference context
PacYES is an annual gathering for Hawaiʻi Island high school students of Pacific Islander heritage, with a focus on college, career and community readiness, according to the conference’s website. UH Hilo and Micronesians United-Big Island co-sponsored the Oct. 17 event, which was the conference’s 13th year, the Tribune-Herald reported.
