Dear Hilo High School parents and guardians,
The safety and well-being of our students is a top priority and we are committed to providing a secure campus. We are sending this letter home to inform you that our administration has been made aware of reported social media threats circulating amongst our school community. Law enforcement officials responded immediately to the situation, and while the investigation remains ongoing, the source of the threat has been identified and an arrest has been made. School remains open with no schedule changes.
Please know that all threats to our schools or students are taken very seriously and are investigated thoroughly. Terroristic threats are considered Class A student conduct offenses. Penalties can range from detention to dismissal with the possibility of arrest and serious criminal charges.
According to the police, reposting a threat is as good as making the threat itself and contributes to prolonging the event. We ask our parents and adults to report any social media threats or inappropriate comments and to not engage in ways that might inflame the situation.
School safety is a continual community effort and your voice is a critical part in keeping our campus safe. We appreciate your help in remaining vigilant and reporting anything suspicious that could be a threat in our neighborhood, online or on social media.
Thank you very much for your attention and for your Kokua in helping to keep our campus safe and secure. If you have any questions, please contact Hilo High School’s administration at 808-313-5500.
Sincerely,
Esther Kanehailua
Hilo-Waiākea Complex Area Superintendent