Hawaii Police Respond to Threat at Pahoa High and Intermediate School

Hawai’i Island police have initiated a first-degree terroristic threatening investigation following an anonymous threat that led to the lockdown of Pahoa High and Intermediate School on the morning of Wednesday, August 20, 2025.

At 9:53 a.m., officers received a call from Pahoa School staff reporting that a student had seen a general social media post threatening the school. In response, the school quickly implemented lockdown measures to ensure the safety of all students and staff.

Police expeditiously arrived at the school, ensuring the safety of the school’s students and faculty. Officers remained on the scene and determined that the threat was false.

Classes were dismissed as usual at 1:45 p.m., and the lockdown was subsequently lifted.

Police ask anyone with any information about this case to call Detective Joseph Picadura at (808) 961-2375 or the police department’s non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.