HONOLULU — Some private schools in Hawaii have mandated COVID-19 vaccines for students, faculty and staff members.
The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported Parker School in Waimea on the Big Island announced earlier this month all employees and eligible students must be vaccinated by Oct. 1.
The independent, coeducational day school for students in kindergarten through 12th grade said it would test all students and employees for COVID-19 before the school year. It plans to provide weekly testing while infection rates remain high on Hawaii Island.
On Oahu, ‘Iolani School is requiring all eligible students, faculty and staff to be vaccinated or seek a health or religious exemption.
Spokeswoman Michelle Hee said the faculty and staff already have a 99% vaccination rate, while eligible students in the Upper School (grades 7-12) are at 95%. The school isn’t requiring Lower School (grades K-6) students to get vaccinated, as most would be ineligible for a shot.
Head of School Timothy Cottrell said vaccination and testing are additional tools to allow safe operations.
“We remain committed to returning to campus with full academics for all grades and implementing strict safety protocols and PPE (personal protective equipment) as needed to keep all students safe,” he said.
Gov. David Ige announced Aug. 5 that all state and county workers — including teachers and school staff members — would need to be vaccinated or undergo weekly testing at their own expense.
But students at the state’s 257 public schools — numbering about 163,000 — are not currently required to be inoculated unless they are involved in high school athletics.
At Punahou, all eligible students and employees are required to either be vaccinated or to test on a weekly basis.
Mid-Pacific Institute spokesman Kevin Whitton the school didn’t need to mandate vaccinations because of its “incredibly high vaccination rate.” He said 97% of the faculty is vaccinated. The school is surveying students to a better idea how many are vaccinated.
Kamehameha Schools said it will continue to encourage COVID-19 vaccinations but “we also respect personal health choices and will continue to provide a weekly testing alternative for those who are not registering with us as vaccinated.”
