RELEASE: HGEA Demands Action By DOE After Brutal Assault On Moanalua High School Employee

News Release from HGEA, December 16, 2025

The assault on the associate athletic director of Moanalua High School, a Unit 6 member of our union, should be a call to action for the state Department of Education, the Hawaii Attorney General and state lawmakers. This kind of violence against public servants cannot become normalized.

That's why HGEA Executive Director Randy Perreira yesterday sent Superintendent Keith Hayashi a letter demanding action now.

"We appreciate that you immediately reacted to the situation," Perreira said. "Words are easy; however, currently we are demanding to know what steps the department intends to take to prevent such instances from occurring again in the future."

Our organization along with the Hawaii State Teachers Association has been sounding the alarm for years about escalating threats against school employees. This incident should prompt DOE to be much more proactive in pushing for harsher criminal penalties for assaulting school employees.

"HGEA and HSTA have sought passage of such legislation, with the response from the DOE being tepid at best," Perreira said. "We hope this act of violence will compel the DOE to push hard for greater criminal penalties."

HGEA intends to hold DOE's feet to the fire. It is time they find their spines and stand up to protect its dedicated employees.

###

PDF: LETTER

KHON: 'Find their spines': Group presses DOE on Moanalua assault