An altercation at the Kaiser football field Monday that required police attention led to the school’s decision to cancel the rest of the Cougars’ season.
According to a source high up in the Kaiser administration, an argument between parents and head coach Arnold Martinez began after practice Monday.
“The parents almost punched him and it got really ugly,” the source said. “The parents were irate and there was some pushing and shoving.”
A security guard stepped in to keep the peace and, apparently, some players also got into the mix, according to the source.
Kaiser principal Justin Mew sent out a letter to Kaiser parents and players today announcing that the varsity and JV season — in which the varsity team has struggled to field a team and has ended up forfeiting most of its games — was over.
The source said the school has asked for a police presence of six to eight officers for the rest of the week, which concludes with the annual homecoming assembly Friday.
At 4:15 p.m. Tuesday, four police cars were at or near the entrance to the field.
The incident on Monday led to an emergency meeting of faculty and staff later in the day, when Mew made it known to them that the football season would be canceled due to safety concerns. Martinez then held a meeting Tuesday with players to let them know of the development.
Kaiser was scheduled to play Moanalua on Friday in its homecoming game. The source said about five to seven players were asked to move up from the JV to the varsity for that game in order for the varsity to have enough manpower.
A blessing for the brand-new artificial turf field, which was scheduled for this week, has been postponed.
Football Parent September 19, 2017 3:17 pm
The Administration is weak. The decision to not play is based on one person the Coach. All problems have stemmed from him and him alone. They should put him on Administrative Leave and let the assistant coaches coach the rest of the season. Problem Solved. Homecoming is for the students, not for the Coach. Escalation occurred because he refused to let a jv player take a team photo yesterday. This student hasn’t been practicing because of an injury he sustained in one of the games. Isn’t he still considered a player? Brutal.
Regardless of how bad Coach Martinez is, regardless that he pushed the Word of God down the kid’s throat, no one has the right to put their hands on another human being in the presence of kids.
I do not agree with what he is doing. But making death threats and making threats to physically harm him isn’t correct.
There are other recourses to utilize. They could have went above the principal’s head straight to the CAS. They could have involved the media. All they needed to do was properly execute one email with the correct people and discuss safety concerns.
That would work much better than making threats and getting into a physical altercation that eventually led to the presence of the police.
Parents shouldn’t be allowed near a coach. Ever. Ignorance.
I encourage you all to join me in emailing the principal… this is disgusting. Whether one parent acted out of line or not, the students shouldn’t suffer. The entire student body is suffering now because of one or two immature adults. Bar that specific parent from campus and let the kids play!
My son doesn’t play football at all but he was excited to go to the first game on campus for homecoming. I emailed the principal my thoughts and am going to ask for a refund for the fee I paid so my son could attend games to be refunded to him and every other student at the school. Justin_Mew@hawaiidoe.org
They should have scrapped the JV program and pushed all those kids to the varsity to compete. IMO that’s what all the schools should do to to help alleviate red shortages, save money etc. treat the football program like the college level. For the bigger schools that can put out a JV team, have a JV season or just 9th grade football.
I feel bad for the seniors at Kaiser.
MaiHeart September 19, 2017 5:35 pm
Parents shouldn’t be allowed near a coach. Ever. Ignorance.
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Totally agree. Now a couple of them have No Trespasses issued on them. They basically cannot go on Kaiser’s campus for any reason for a period of 1 year from today.
LET THE KIDS PLAY LET THE KIDS PLAY LET THE KIDS PLAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Feel sorry for the student athletes. From the beginning of the season, this looked like a bad situation (low numbers, forfeiting games). Those boys should of been allowed to transfer to a school where they could of play out the rest of the season, especially for the seniors.
This is The epitamy of a FAILED Football program that might have jeopardized potential student athletes that could have played to get their school paid for! I hate stupid Principals and Athletic Directors who hire this incompetent HC. The rest of you who wants your children to play, move Kalani or Kalaheo they have a team that needs more players, forget Kaiser, let the school have no FB.
As an ex-teacher on Maui I have first-hand experience with the the disrespectful parents of these kids. The parents are the problem and it shows with their disrespectful, out of control children. That’s the reason the teacher turnover rate is so high.
The ripple effects of this decision are tremendous. Now the pep band, cheerleaders, marching band and color guard have no one to perform for. Not to mention the senior players who may have been scouted this year and gotten college scholorships. The coach and the parent should be the ones penalized, not the kids. AUWE Mr. Mew! Let’s find a better solution.
Rumor I heard is that a parent or parents went to the coaches house after the school confrontation. How sad is that? These parents are low life trash…. better yet… PUS! Get a life!
In regard to these PUS, all they do is complain… how about they give up their afternoon and weekend lives and coach these kids. If the PUS not willing to take the job…. then they need to shut their trap!
@ PlayaHatersAnonymous, I agree with most of what you said. However, regardless of the situation, no adult has the right to physically confront someone or make death threats. This man is a father and has a family. Can you imagine what would happen if his children found out that someone is telling their dad that they or someone will kill him? That is bad and way over the line.
Also, the kids are at Kaiser for school. Football is an extracurricular activity. Moving is just crazy. They are proper channels to take with administration to voice concerns. If it’s safety and it can be proved then action should be taken by the school’s administration to fix the concerns. If administration doesn’t want to do anything, then you can go above their head.
If it involves safety and liability, I am pretty confident they would do something to fix the problem or possibly change the coach.
From other thread …
It needs to be said that some parents DID TRY to go through the proper channels of Kaiser administration to take action and these concerns were ignored. This certainly doesn’t justify the actions of the one or two “bad apple” parents who tried to take matters into their own hands, but it does explain the stepping stones of frustration leading to it.
The Kaiser administration needs to be held accountable for a lot of this. Blaming the parents at this point is the easy way out (and typical of the state system). I’m glad some of the parents were posting comments dating back to August. It shows some proof that these problems were simply being ignored by those who had the power to do something about it.
The old donkeys at the OIA also could have stepped in at any time in the last month to shut down the Kaiser football season and that would have nipped it right there. I mean really, does it make sense for a high school football organization to allow one of its team with only 19 players to keep making weekly decisions on participation?
Finally, the workers of the press including this dying newspaper were scrambling last night to find out the story. Hello?!? Some parents and others have been trying to let you guys know for the last few months that this situation was about to explode.
Falcon Future September 20, 2017 8:13 am
From other thread …
It needs to be said that some parents DID TRY to go through the proper channels of Kaiser administration to take action and these concerns were ignored.
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That is fair. But there are other channels to explore. They could have contacted the Complex Area Superintendent who the principal reports to. There are assistant superintendents. There is the media. There are lawyers who can represent the kids and parents if there are safety concerns for lack of supervision, playing without enough kids, etc.
It seems some parents think only the principal can take action. Not it’s not.
So as a parent you priority is your sons safety right? You attempt to go through the proper channels and now you think they eeded to complain again to a higher level? cmon man, all that is needed is one complaint to AD of Kaiser or Principle and nothing higher, stop blaming the victim.
Another person thinks that they should have shutdown the JV program and move them all up? So a kid who is not ready for varsity is just supposed to take the physicality of Kahuku kids because of numbers? cmon man, its not the JV’s fault the numbers are low, scrap varsity instead. I think that maybe the disagreement was the varsity coach wanted his young players to move up to varsity and the parents concerned with their safety objected.
What is the worst part is that Kaiser was in the highest level of football playing the strongest teams instead of being demoted to a lower and safer bracket.
All the parents and anyone else who used violence in this matter should be made to all sit in a dark room and watch school video feed-in of those two evildoers as they made their way through Columbine high school on that day that changed schools and humanity forever.
Grow up, parents and anyone else who hot into VIOLENCE in this damn manini thing!!!
And YES investigate the coach and principal too!!!! If they KNEW at the beginning of the season that Kailua football sinolybcould not compete this time around, then they should have made the decision to forfeit the season before it even started!!!!
So as a parent you priority is your sons safety right? You attempt to go through the proper channels and now you think they eeded to complain again to a higher level? cmon man, all that is needed is one complaint to AD of Kaiser or Principle and nothing higher, stop blaming the victim.
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Let me preface this by saying if these things that are being said is true, I don’t think Coach Martinez is doing a really good job.
But, what is the safety concern? And is there evidence that the kids’ safety is being compromised? Anyone can come on here and say this and that is happening. Without evidence, no administrator is going to do anything. Now they might investigate, but that doesn’t mean they found anything.
Right now everyone is reacting based on what anonymous people are writing on a blog. I am not saying the coach is correct. Until I see evidence, I am reserving judgement and trying to look at everyone’s point of view.
But we are all assuming that the principal or vp didn’t do anything. Maybe they felt their wasn’t a need to do anything.
This is what constitutes a safety violation to me.
1) Not properly hydrating kids
2) Lack of adult supervision
3) Doctors not clearing players to play and the coach forces them to play without the proper consent
4) Hitting a kid
5) Running 4 hour full pad practices
Are these things happening? Spending more time with the JV team isn’t a safety issue. Riding the bus with the JV team (as long as there is adult supervision on the varsity bus) is not a safety issue.
Having the kids stand on the field while the JV game is going on is not a safety violation if an approved adult is put in charge of supervision.
Prior to the season Martinez was on a 1420 sports talk show – I don’t remember which one. From what I gathered from that interview his vision for building a solid self sustaining football program starts with building up the JV program, in his view, the feeder system for the varsity. He said something like you won’t find a successful football program that doesn’t have a solid feeder system. The upper level ILH schools all have middle school and JV teams that are the feeder system for their varsity.
From the outside looking in, his plan to build up the feeder system first was not a bad idea but the way he went about it turned out to be a disaster.
RRFL!
SHAME ON ALL OF YOU! You have disgraced our community and set a bad example for our children. Let’s do the right thing and make our community great! COUGAR PRIDE!!
Class of 75
Tru Dat Bill!
I have no idea of the situation that has gone on with Coach Martinez. I don’t know coach Martinez personally. But I promise you this I follow high school sports and every level of football in Hawaii. I do know this that everyone that talks about Coach Martinez in the coaching community which I am a part of have never have anything bad to say about him. Remember he completely rebuild the Moanalua program from ground up. Coach Martinez always build his program the right way, with total discipline and just maybe some individuals didn’t like doing the things the right way. Everyone stop and think about this . by your fruits you shall be known” we know what kind of fruits he has produced”. His attackers on the other hand I don’t know how much work they have ever given back to community. Until further notice and more up-to-date facts. I will probably keep my voice towards the victim and the one that has been producing good fruits because of his labor or look really bad taking sides for someone that hasn’t produced anything. Everyone stay blessed and remember we do this to better our student-athletes for a possible chance at a scholarship to subsidize he higher education. Less than half percent ever make it to the NFL but after 21 years of coaching it behooves me that 99% all the parents think that their player is the one that will get there and that makes them act out of character.
Alex, I’ve been in the football scene here in Hawaii as s coach since the 90’s, in both OIA and ILH. Arnold is a good coach but he is different. Many coaches respect what he did but wouldn’t do it the way he did. Moanalua and Kaiser are different, very different. What he did at moanalua cannot work at Kaiser, I said that when he got hired. I’ve just heard too many bad stories lately. I know he wants to stay until his boy gets there, but for sake of the school, he should leave. Why put your family through this. Is it worth it? He lives right across the street, and I even heard they went there! Parents are stupid, especially the ones that never played sports and think they know. The ones that did play and thing they know are just as bad!!!! Tim Seaman is a legend there. He should take over. They should also reevaluate Dana there too. She is also great but changed when she became a VP. She had been a “homer” of Moanalua people. Girls basketball, another program that had controversy, also got a former MHS coach, hired by Dana. Just too ugly and sad over there in Cougar Country
Alex, who in the heck knew he did anything in Moanalua, that’s why he’s at Kaiser because he hasn’t any fruit! And now he’s poisoned this community thanks to the VP and AD and ultimately the Principal, who’s heads should roll also. Fire them all, the damage is done and the children pay the price… it’s only a matter of time before we read about the lawsuits that are pending with these monkeys, I hate monkeys!
Shocking how many haters there are. Martinez not only made sure his players went to class and qualified for college at Moanalua, he helped a lot of players get scholarships. I remember when he got into the locker rooms with paint and brushes, trash bags and picked up, cleaned up and got the players and himself to re-do the locker rooms that were falling apart. He brought pride back to the program. He left Moanalua, he was not fired. What gets me most though is that these are the same type of parents and administrators that got Miano fired. Face it, if your kid sucks as a football player, he’s not going to play. If your kid cant keep his grades up he should not be allowed to play. Miano brought winning back to Kaiser then you all complained so much he got fired and he’s been 100% cleared of any wrong doing that he was accused of, but of course aside from a few little reports that has been kept pretty quiet. Now the parents attack Martinez. The man doesnt have a bad bone in his body, though he does tend to preach and he should not do that. The kids are the ones that are losing out but the parents and the administrators are just plain losers.
I had the opportunity as a parent of a special needs student to work closely with principal Justin Mew at another school. We spent many hours in meetings during the years that my child was enrolled at his school and I found him to be fair and reasonable in his decision making. He consistently listened to both sides and asked good questions before making a well thought out decision that balanced the student’s individual needs and the needs of the general student body and staff.
I believe that Mr. Mew put a lot of thought into his decision and took into consideration the collective safety of the students and staff.
Martinez is a a man of FAITH…everyone needs Jesus in their life… and for him to preech this to the kids is awesome. Bc football is just a sport…
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, bit have everlasting life. -John 3:16
Sorry , But Praise the Lord! That’s the wrong approach. Martinez may have done well at Moanalua. But somewhere along the lines he’s changed. Cannot bring religion into football. It needs to be neutral. There are many religions out there and all must be respected. Somewhere along the lines of coaching, we forgot that we shape and build men and women to be good people in the world. Back in the day, all players were involved in the game plan. Some schools I watch still follow that motto. If you want to build a solid program , you have to include non starters as well or your future prospects will dwindle. I see to many teams falter after one guy gets hurt. Then the coaches expect the next man up to be the savior and the 2 nd. String player never even played a down in a game. We focus to much on the wins and lost colum. A true program is one that have a good foundation to build off. Winning as with life comes when you are grounded and centered. We have to empower the players you coach and make them
Believe they can. Most teenagers really need confidence and support. At this age they are struggling to find a identity. You coach the kids and not the parents. As for parents, love and support your program. I am a formal player for Kaiser and graduated in 1985. I can say I have never talked bad about my high school football experience. We talk about having all these qualification to be a coach. It’s great! And all coaches should have some training. But the true and best coaches are the ones with life experiences and are willing to Change and adapt to your players that you have. One way of coaching is not always the right fit for all players. Aloha to all for showing you care. I never did a response like this before , but I feel we are overlooking and thinking to much about how to coach kids. I respect all coaches who give there time to commit and make huge sacrifices. Good Luck to All this Weekend. Remember, you never loose if you love what you are doing. Aloha
I think athletics is not a part of Mr. Mew’s priorities. That is what happens when an elementary or middle school principal gets a high school principal job. There are too many components of a high school that don’t exist at the lower levels. The administration should’ve handled this earlier. The “new AD” is a puppet of the administration, specifically Dana Takahara-Dias. That seems to be the newest thing in hawaii high schools, select the former alumni as the AD that has no knowledge or experience but then academic administrators micro manage athletics. The last 2 ADs fall into this category (Kaiser and Waianae). I would like to think that the AD would’ve had many conversations with the coach and decided or mandated changes in perspectives. No doubt the parents shouldn’t have threatened Martinez. It is hard though when the VP selected coaches and a new AD has to work with them. But the question is has the AD worked with coach Martinez? It does amaze me how the AD has not been visible or said anything about the low numbers, forfeits, etc before the altercation. Why did Kaiser need a DOE spokesperson for the handling of the football team from back in July? Must be nice to get AD pay, but have others do “your job” for you.
Parents, set the example for your kids. There will be harder lessons in life for them to learn.
It just doesn’t matter!
As a current varsity coach I am fortunate to have never had any “parent”, threaten me with violence. I wouldn’t wish that upon anyone, in any profession. Let alone one where we donate upwards of 500 hours a year+ depending on sport and off season regimen.
To the angry parents,
I don’t know everything about your situation. I know that religion is something we are told to not initiate as coaches while participating in school function, or on campus. That would be a violation. So yes, if that occurred, “check”, rule broken.
Bad coach, favoritism, unfair punishment, doesn’t encourage and engage in a way that resonates with players, neglects and misallocates time on duty in a way that you and many others DO NOT agree with.. Hell, his own staff doesn’t want to coach with him. The only reason he got his job was through “friend kine action”.
I hear you.
I know we can at least agree that the extremes the coach endured went too far at the end though, right? Ok.
Now to the counterpoint.. There is no counterpoint.
What you as parents are bringing into athletics that I, parent to none, volunteer to community, encourager, friend, disciplinarian, objective converser, part-time mentor and believer in establishing good.. in your child…
What I absolutely fear most, is that I will one day lose my freedom.
It has taken nearly a third of all the years that I have lived to get to where I am now. Sacrifices were made before your child was old enough to do Algebra. Stay with me, just please listen. I’m not here to bash any side.
The landscape that would support your argument, the one that would, “make it right for you”, vastly distorts the road and costs I have absorbed in order to get here. It is one that if enough parental support is garnered, all aspects of my job are at your discretion. Administration with degrees and educational expertise, mute. Coaches with years of experience, doesn’t matter. In this environment we are encroaching on, coaches do not exist. We serve no purpose because we do not have your support. And without that support, you are free to command change on all levels. We are just about there.
Get this coach out!
AD you don’t listen and don’t take action, kapput.
Next coach comes in.
“LOL this guy doesn’t even have 8 assistant coaches. CYA!”
“Whoa you have no idea how bad we had it!!!”
I don’t. I hope that if disservice was done to your sons that they learn from this unfortunate event. I wish that you can show them how to be strong when anger, disgust, betrayal, disbelief surge in your veins. How beautiful, “grace”, can be when you escape chaos. If you were truly wronged, I am sorry a coach failed you.
Why do you parents believe that he wanted so badly to derail the varsity program?
No one should EVER lay a hand in anger over something as trivial as playing time, difference in philosophy, etc., especially in front of players. What a horrible example these parents are for their children. I practice tai chi at Aala Park which centers the mind and body and gives one inner peace. I suggest some of these adults do the same.
For I know that these parents tried to get thru to them and coach but Martinez would not talk to parents yes they could have done it calmly but I guess that frustration finally blew up as I know there were no hands put on the coach if they were hands put on the couch that parent or parents would have been arrested it seems the parent didn’t go there to harm to coach or harm anybody but to get through to the coach of what he’s doing preaching Christianity on the children they were uncomfortable so I don’t blame the parents for their not being a game or stopping to homecoming I blame the coach and I blame the school communication is important between parents and the school and coaches unfortunately I got out of hand but I don’t think these parents went there to harm anybody they just went there to justification of why their son got kicked off the team but coach Martinez would not look the parent in the eye as I heard from one of the boys coach Martinez said that the parent had pushed him one of the boys that were there said that there was no hands put on Martinez there was no shoving there was no pushing the only hands that will put on a person is when the security guard came and put his hands on the wife and that’s when the other parent went even more crazy he wanted to press charges against the security guy who put his hands on his wife you guys have all false information yes they could have gone there calmly as I said before and it did get out of hand don’t blame these parents don’t blame the child blame the coach blame the school for having no communication whatsoever these parents had all the right to protect their child and find out what was going on the field as I’ve heard coach Martinez does not treat these kids well on the field so he had it coming to him but thank God no one was hurt
Praise The Lord!!!! September 21, 2017 8:15 am
Martinez is a a man of FAITH…everyone needs Jesus in their life… and for him to preech this to the kids is awesome. Bc football is just a sport…
WRONG!!!! Kaiser is a public school open to all. He should not be preaching to anybody about his faith under his wings. If he wants this, he should be coaching one of our private schools where faith is the basis of their school.
Why you mad, bro?