Maui: Community rallies around longtime Haiku teacher Monica Nakahashi placed on leave while investigation pending
HAIKU — Second-generation students, alumni and former staff members rallied Monday behind a longtime Haiku Elementary School teacher who was put on leave and escorted off campus due to an ongoing investigation.
Kindergarten teacher Monica Nakahashi was escorted off campus Friday, sparking outrage and a demonstration by hundreds of community members on Monday afternoon outside the school.
“There’s not much I can share because of confidentiality reasons, but we’re here to show our support for my mother’s character,” Ulu Nakahashi said Monday. “She’s been a teacher for over 40 years, and she has nothing but love for her children.”
Nakahashi was unable to comment Monday, but her family posted a message on Facebook saying that she was escorted off campus Friday by the new principal and vice principal with no time to pack up her things. They said she was facing retaliation for “speaking out and filing a formal complaint against the microaggressive behavior and actions of her principal who has been bullying and harassing her since July 2020.”
