Though violence on Hawaii campuses is rare, the state is preparing to roll out a new alert system for public schools as a way to speed up law enforcement response in an emergency, such as an active shooter situation.
Although Hawaii has only had three shooting incidents at schools since 1988, none of which resulted in a death, according to the Center for Homeland Defense and Security, deadly school shootings on the mainland have perpetuated concerns among community members that one could happen in the islands.
Fights, stabbings and threats are also a concern. Last year, a student at Makaha Elementary School stabbed a classmate with scissors during an argument. Recent threats involved a 12-year-old threatening to shoot up her school in an online post and a 15-year-old posting about gang members entering schools on Hawaii island, Hawaii News Now reported.
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