Kamehameha Schools teacher arrested, placed on leave after sexual assault allegations
STAR-ADVERTISER
The Kamehameha Schools-Kapalama campus. A Kamehameha Schools high school teacher has been placed on indefinite administrative leave after being accused of sexually assaulting a student, according to police records and the school.
A Kamehameha Schools high school teacher has been placed on indefinite administrative leave after being accused of sexually assaulting a student, according to police records and the school.
The 23-year-old teacher was arrested at 9:38 p.m. Friday at the main police station for investigation of nine counts of first-degree sexual assault and one count of third-degree sexual assault, according to police arrest logs. He remained in police custody this afternoon, pending an investigation.
The man is a faculty member in the performing arts department at the Kapalama campus, according to the school’s website.
Taran Chun, head of Kamehameha Schools Kapalama, said in a letter sent to parents today that the school recently learned about an alleged inappropriate relationship between a faculty member and a student at the school.
He said the school immediately placed the teacher on administrative leave and was cooperating with a Honolulu Police Department investigation.
He said only limited information could be shared to protect the student’s privacy and avoid interfering with the police investigation.
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“Kamehameha Schools does not tolerate inappropriate or abusive behavior of any kind,” he said in the letter.
Kevin Cockett, Kamehameha Schools spokesman, said keeping students safe is the school’s top priority.
“These incidents are not okay,” he said by phone today. “It is our responsibility to encourage students to come forward and embrace an environment of vigorous and active reporting and transparency.”
The letter to parents comes two days after the school confirmed it agreed to pay $80 million to 32 plaintiffs who were sexually abused decades ago by a psychiatric consultant who worked for the school. The school is still negotiating with two other plaintiffs.
Chun said he anticipates learning of more incidents of abuse with the heightened awareness and training to prevent sexual assaults.
“We want all victims to feel safe to speak up, so that we can support them and learn how to better keep current and future students safe,” he said.
Kamehameha Schools teacher indefinite leave letter by Honolulu Star-Advertiser on Scribd
