Police: Incident at Pāhoa school hospitalizes 12-year-old girl; toxicology results pending

Hawai‘i Island police are investigating an incident that occurred Tuesday morning at Pāhoa High & Intermediate School, which left a 12-year-old student hospitalized.   

On Feb. 6, shortly after 10 a.m., the Pāhoa High & Intermediate School Resource Officer was alerted by school staff, that there was an unresponsive female student on a nearby school bench. The officer immediately responded and observed the student who was unresponsive to verbal and physical stimuli.

As a precautionary measure, the officer administered a single dose of Naloxone, commonly known as Narcan, to the student; it had little effect, as she remained unresponsive, but was breathing. The girl was then transported via ambulance to the Hilo Medical Center Emergency Room.

Area I Juvenile Aid Section and Vice Section detectives responded to the scene to assist in interviewing witnesses and to review campus video surveillance.

Students at the school provided conflicting statements to officers; however, it was reported that the 12-year-old female may have “vaped” just prior to going unresponsive.

The victim was treated at the Hilo Medical Center, and is scheduled to be released this afternoon. Toxicology results are pending.

The Area I Juvenile Aid Section is continuing this investigation. Police ask anyone with information relative to this incident to call Detective Richard Itliong at 808-961-2278, or via email at Richard.Itliong@hawaiicounty.gov.