The recent apology to students who were victims of abuse while attending Kamehameha Schools by CEO Jack Wong means absolutely nothing without a full accounting of any and all the adults who had knowledge of this egregious act of violence who chose to remain silent and do nothing to help the victims when they needed it most.
It is the absence of the adult voices who knew of the abuse, irregardless of when they knew, that allowed the abuse to occur, allowed the abuse to be covered up, and forced the victims to relive this horror every day it has gone unanswered. These adults had the kuleana, the responsibility, to speak up for the children who were victims of abuse that occurred on their watch and the many years after it finally ended.
How could these horrific abuses happen?
Silent voices. Choosing to do nothing. Looking the other way. Lawyers, administrators and trustees who are more concerned about liability, lawsuits and image than the welfare of the children they are charged to protect.
Standing silent as adult witnesses to the abuse of children and allowing it to continue for decades makes each of these adults as complicit as the abuser himself.
Why was no one willing to step forward and speak up to protect the victims?
For God’s sake, why?
It is another shameful and unforgivable chapter in the history of Kamehameha Schools and its penchant for cover-ups, settling claims and preserving a false image of being an advocate for Hawaiian children and their education. What is the lesson being taught here?
Bernice Pauahi Bishop could not have imagined such horrific acts being committed against children ever taking place in the institution founded by her generous inheritance to provide an education that should be the first in line to honor, cherish and protect our precious keiki.
Unimaginable. Unthinkable. Unforgivable.
To make matters worse, these vile abuses were covered up for years until the victims themselves stepped forward as adults to expose the crimes committed by “Dr.” Robert Browne, a well-known psychiatrist at St. Francis Hospital. It seems that Browne, the abuser of children, chose to end his life rather than take responsibility for his actions when confronted by one of his victims.
As a graduate of the Kamehameha Schools, I am deeply disturbed by these events and I am truly saddened and sorry for the victims. Their voices deserve to be heard as loud and clear as they choose. At this point in time their voices are the only voices that count.
To begin to make things right, Kamehameha Schools must start with the following:
>> Hold accountable every single adult in its employ, past and present, who had any knowledge of these abuses and remained silent, by naming names, terminating employment, revoking any and all retirement benefits, doing anything and everything to hold them responsible with appropriate consequences;
>> Ensure the victims receive justice in whatever form they ask for and deserve without any more trauma of reliving or recounting this horror;
>> Put safeguards in place to make sure this never happens again;
>> Resolve to be an advocate for the children whose welfare it is entrusted with and take active steps now to protect the keiki from any potential future harm.
Jack Wong, if your apology is to mean anything, do the right thing and do it now. This is on your watch.
Kamuela Kala‘i is a Kamehameha Schools alumnus, class of 1971.
