Last Updated on July 10, 2024 by ahadmin
Directors and Coaches,
McKinley High School has issued a final warning to the Aloha Region regarding the use of their facilities. During this 2024 volleyball season these incidences have occurred with more frequency and blatant disregard with the Region’s requests and warnings and the facility itself.
There has been flagrant disregard for laws governing the use of tobacco products, including electronic cigarettes/vapes on campus by the spectators despite the continuous warnings and requests during the coaches meeting, repeated warnings to the same individuals, posted signs (by the school and the Region), and the fact that it is a State law have been ignored. Within the past 3 weekends alone, there has been an INCREASE in the smoking violations..
Repeated warnings have been stated regarding McKinley High School staff being on campus during our tournaments who have witnessed several violations and reported us to the administration. As a result of the disregard for the rules by a small population of the many parents, spectators, and players enjoying the event, the Region is at its high risk of losing use of the facility.
The incidents that have initiated the final warning occurred this past two weekends.
- Kids throwing parking cones on top of the PE Building (Ewa side of the gym) to get down volleyballs.
- Rubbish left in between the gym and PE Lockers from teams eating and drinking in that area. Teams did not utilize the trash cans. Trash was left on the sidewalk and grass areas.
- Trucks and cars parked in the front and back of the gym despite being told they needed to move them.
- Unsupervised kids flooded the sidewalk and muddied the area next to the weightlifting building (Diamond Head side of the gym).
- These same unsupervised children were scolded then went into the plants in front of the Girls PE Locker (Makai/Ewa side of the gym) and destroyed 6 – 7 of the plants.
- Blatant disregard for the law prohibiting the use of tobacco products including electronic cigarettes (vapes) on State facilities (the school campus) by repeat individuals. They have been caught smoking/vaping – behind the gym; side of gym; front of the gym, and the cafeteria pavilion area. Despite the warnings, they continue to smoke/vape.
Sadly, the last five bullet points were witnessed by School and other DOE staff.
RULES NOT BEING FOLLOWED:
- SMOKING ON CAMPUS (This is a State law – HRS §§302A–1112, 328K–5) (Imp: HRS §§302A-1101, 302A-1111, 328K-2, 328K–5, 328K-13.
- The basic translation of the HRS is – NO SMOKING ON A STATE FACILITY, including weekends. It doesn’t matter that there are no students on campus.
- Parents have been frequently caught smoking/vaping in the back of the gym, in front of the gym, and in the pavilion area of the cafeteria. We have repeatedly told them they need to go off campus to smoke. We have reported it to the club representatives and coaches. However, the same habitual offenders are caught again later in the day or the next day/tournament.
- PARKING IN DESIGNATED AREAS
- No parking in the front, sides, or back of the gym.
- Parents have been parking their trucks and cars in front of the gym and across by the cafeteria. The school has placed cones in these areas so that no one will park there.
- Parents have begun to park behind the gym and the on the side of the gym. Those areas are reserved for event staff and referees only.
- We make announcements and go around the gym to ask who’s cars they are, but no one claims that hey own them. GOING FORWARD WE WILL TOW ANY ONE PARKED IN “NO PARKING AREAS”.
- NO POTLUCKING
- REMINDER – there are no potlucks allowed. We do not mind a small bag of snacks, etc. but the Clubs are gathering after the tournaments by the tables, passing out food and leaving the rubbish cans overflowing, when the opt to clean-up after themselves.
- Our staff are not custodians and shouldn’t have to pick up after players, parents and coaches.
- COOLERS WITH ICE
- Coolers are not allowed in the gym. Parents/spectators are now sneaking them in from the back and side doors. The coolers contain ice, spill or leak water, creating a hazard for all attendees.
- Spills are often ignored.
- The owners are not the ones having to clean the water spills.
- RUBBISH
- Teams are told to pick up their rubbish before leaving and a few clubs leave their rubbish for us to pick up.
- We have also mentioned that we would supply trash bags for any teams that need them.
- Broken chairs and empty boxes should not be shoved into the rubbish cans. Those should be broken down and taken to the dumpster across the gym.
As event staff we shouldn’t have to police parents about smoking, babysitting unsupervised kids, serve as your custodians, and parking attendants. This has jeapordized the use of venues to host future leagues and tournaments.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for your assistance in this matter.
Pat Akana
[email protected]
