Five teens charged in bullying incident at intermediate school

MAKAWAO (HawaiiNewsNow) - Five teens were arrested and charged following a bullying incident at Maui’s Kalama Intermediate School.

The crime happened last month on campus in Makawao.

On Sept. 26, around 1:10 p.m., the Maui Police Department responded to a report of an assault involving juveniles at the school.

The investigation determined that a 13-year-old boy was involved in an incident with five girls, ages 13 to 14, in a soundproof room near the Ukulele Room.

Police said some of the girls blocked the door, with one holding the boy’s arm and another holding the door closed, trapping him inside for about 20 minutes.

Investigators said several of the girls recorded the incident on their phones.

On Monday, Oct. 20, all five girls were arrested and charged with kidnapping. Four were also charged with third-degree assault.

In accordance with state law, which protects the identities of minors, the names of the juveniles are withheld to maintain confidentiality.

The school’s principal sent a letter to parents, informing them of “a serious incident that occurred involving a small number of our students” with “assault-related charges involving student-on-student interactions.”

The letter said the school’s administration is in close contact with the families involved and fully cooperating with law enforcement.

“We take it very serious with the Maui Police Department,” said Michael Meredith, an investigator with MPD’s Juvenile Crime Prevention Division. “We will investigate it thoroughly and if you’re involved in any way, whether it be talk about prior, standing around watching, recording, we will investigate it. We will hold you accountable.”

Licensed marriage and family therapist Tina Boteilho said bullying not only affects victims. Studies find suspects are more likely to commit suicide.

“They do have three to four times more attempts, but also suicidal ideation, isolation,” Boteilho said. “They’re not notifying people around them or other adults that they’re having some of these scarier thoughts. We see an increase in self-harm. We see an increase in depression.”

October is National Bullying Prevention Month.

In addition to providing counseling and support, the school is hosting a Unity Day on Wednesday to teach students that it’s better to be a buddy than a bully.

“The parents play such a pivotal role. So if you can, get your kids’ mentors, coaches, people that you really look up to or that you admire,” Boteilho said.

“Be part of the solution, not the problem,” said Meredith. “And if you’re not trying to help it, then you are part of the problem.”

Anyone with additional information regarding this incident is urged to contact the Juvenile Crime Prevention Division at (808) 244-6480.