KANEOHE, Hawaii — Campus lockdowns at Waianae and Castle High Schools last week resulted in the cancellation of those schools’ Oahu Interscholastic Association game set for Friday at the Knights’ field in a highly unusual step taken by the Hawaii Department of Education.

The DOE sent out a memo Monday to football ohana of the two schools announcing the cancellation, signed by Waianae Principal Ray Pikelny-Cook and Castle Principal Bernadette Tyrell.

High school football games on Oahu have been nixed in the recent past when one team forfeits due to injury concerns, or for health reasons like when the entire 2020 football season was canceled due to the COVID-19 threat. A cancellation due to the looming threat of violence or other human-driven disruption in Hawaii is exceptionally rare, if not unprecedented. 

What You Need To Know

  • After groups of people affiliated with Castle and Waianae High Schools allegedly caused disruptions and lockdowns on the other's campus last week, the state Department of Education took the unusual step of canceling those teams' football game scheduled for this Friday

  • DOE Superintendent Keith Hayashi told Spectrum News on Tuesday that he supported the schools' principals' joint decision to cancel the game at Castle for safety concerns

  • The game will not be made up, the OIA said, as both Castle and Waianae are still in charge of their own postseason fates

  • A game cancellation due to the looming threat of violence in Hawaii is exceptionally rare, if not unprecedented

DOE Superintendent Keith Hayashi told Spectrum News on Tuesday he backed the school administrations' joint decision to cancel the game, which will not be made up.

"The Department supports the decision of Castle Principal Tyrell and Waianae Principal Pikelny because student and staff safety is our highest priority," Hayashi said. "We are working closely with both schools to address the safety concerns. Disclosing additional details could further compromise safety at this time."

The principals wrote that their decision "was not made lightly. While we believe in the power of athletics to unite and inspire, we must prioritize the safety and well-being of our students, staff and families above all else.

“We understand the disappointment and frustration this may cause. Please know that we remain committed to our student-athletes and the importance of athletics in our schools.”

Two groups, believed to be affiliated with each school, allegedly caused disruptions on the other school’s campus last week, resulting in the lockdowns, Spectrum News learned. It was unclear if the groups were connected to their school’s football teams in any way.

Castle football coach Junior Pale, who is also the head of security at Castle, did not immediately return messages seeking comment on Tuesday. The Knights were seen practicing on their field in the afternoon.

OIA football coordinator Harold Tanaka told Spectrum News that the game will not be rescheduled. Waianae (1-6, 1-3 OIA Open B pod) is already locked into the third seed in its three-team pod with only a game at Kapolei remaining. Castle (1-4, 0-4 OIA Division I B pod) and Radford (0-6, 0-5) were already scheduled to play next week in a game that will determine the third and final playoff seed in the four-team OIA Division I B pod.

Brian McInnis covers the state's sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.