School vandals strike again

By James Gonser
Advertiser Central Bureau

WAIPAHU — Vandalism has become so commonplace at Waipahu Intermediate School that "every time we have a school break, some kind of damage occurs," said teacher Mark Tawarahara.

Waipahu Intermediate social studies teacher and beautification adviser Mark Tawarahara said some of the plants destroyed in the latest act of vandalism were endangered species. Kyle Sackowski • The Honolulu Advertiser

Vice Principal Gerald Teramae said Waipahu Intermediate has suffered a series of thefts and vandalism during school breaks.

On the first day of spring break, someone smashed several water fountains and killed a tree.

On the first day of summer break, June 12, someone broke into the school's greenhouse and stole nine bags of potting soil and black sand, water hoses and tools.

Last year, a science teacher created a hydroponic garden, using his own time and money, so students could learn to grow lettuce and other vegetables. But someone stole the whole system — pipes, pumps and all. The teacher was so discouraged he gave up the program, Teramae said.

The July 13 vandalism was also at least the fourth time this year that plants had been destroyed at an O'ahu public school.

Social studies teacher and beautification adviser Mark Tawarahara found the mess on July 14 and called police.

Tawarahara volunteers his time to beautify the campus, working after school and on weekends. He organizes a group of students every year to help with the effort.

Special education students helped plant 55 hibiscuses this summer; most of those plants were destroyed in the latest act of vandalism.

"We try to teach the kids that they can make a difference when they join the beautification team," Tawarahara said. "The kids get really upset when they know they have worked really hard to put something in the ground and come back and see the plant dead."

Tawarahara collected the damaged plants and soaked the roots in the hopes of saving some of them.

"Some of the plants are endangered species donated by a science teacher," he said.

Police Lt. Mark Ross said vandalism is often a crime of opportunity. Ross said police receive many reports of people drinking on or near the school. The drinking, he said, could be contributing to the problem.

"Drinking is one thing and can lead to another," he said.

The campus is somewhat isolated, with homes on only one side, and is not easily seen from the street.

"It is so frustrating because it is happening over and over and over again," Teramae said. "It costs the school a lot of money we don't have."

According to the state Department of Education, 15 schools reported vandalism during the 2000-2001 school year, with an estimated $5,000 in damages. But many of the smaller incidents go unreported.

Seven palm trees and numerous plants were chopped down at Keolu Elementary in February and 30 6-foot ti plants were destroyed at Ka'elepulu Elementary School in April. Both of those schools are in Kailua. Eight rare koa trees worth about $1,600 were uprooted at Mililani High in January.

A security company patrols the Waipahu Intermediate campus at night, but Teramae said it is not enough, and he hopes more people will pay attention to the school and report anything unusual.

"The community needs to take an active part in the school," Teramae said. "We have great faculty and staff, but when things like this happen it is very discouraging. We need everyone's support. Call the police if you see people on campus. They will check it out."

The school has been a frequent victim of vandalism and burglary over the years.

The burglaries ended with the installation of an alarm system, but paying for the system comes out of the school budget and takes away from educational materials, Teramae said.

Waipahu Intermediate head custodian John Choo said that before the alarm system was installed, the school was burglarized every week.

"No exaggeration," Choo said.