Unveiling the Challenges of the Hawaiian School System: Personal Stories and Observations
The educational environment in Hawaii often faces complex issues, many of which tend to remain hidden or unaddressed. As a student navigating this system, I’ve witnessed and experienced a range of situations that highlight both systemic problems and the unique culture within Hawaiian schools.
One of the most troubling incidents involved a teacher—specifically, an English teacher who was also a special education instructor—being arrested for sexual misconduct over several months. Looking back, I can see subtle warning signs that many chose to overlook, partly because he was popular and considered “cool” among students. Interestingly, school policies supposedly mandated that discussing such serious incidents openly would lead to disciplinary action, but in practice, few teachers enforced this. Over time, I noticed behaviors that raised red flags: he was the advisor for the sophomore student council and hosted visits to his apartment adjacent to the school—visits for which the school actually had permission slips, adding an unsettling layer to the situation.
In his classroom, he had a particular chair next to his desk that some students, including myself, enjoyed sitting in. He often allowed students to skip class at will and even left his door unlocked during drills, which seemed reckless in retrospect. The class itself was mostly a place for idling—phones out, watching cartoons—until the teacher’s departure. Although I don’t miss him, I look back fondly on that chair, where I could unwind and take restful naps with a soft blanket.
Following his departure, a more responsible substitute teacher took over. Unlike his predecessor, he enforced discipline and classroom structure—though he promptly removed the beloved chair, drawing a line between chaos and order.
This is only one of many stories from Hawaiian schools. During my sophomore year, a tragic incident was brushed under the rug: a peer reportedly jumped out of a window amid suspicions of drug use or possible suicide. The event was mentioned just once in school announcements, then ignored, leaving many students confused and unsettled. It was especially shocking considering how a girl, known for her academic excellence and respectfulness, was given extensive media coverage after tragically passing away in a car accident on or near campus. Meanwhile, the boy’s story faded quickly, reflecting unfair attention and a lack of transparency.
Social media played its part in documenting school life, with accounts posting videos of fights or embarrassing moments, such as a girl losing her top—highlighting some of the darker aspects