The Kalani administration has added new vape detectors to Kalani High School bathrooms in an attempt to battle excessive vaping on campus. Due to an apparent increase in youth vaping in many schools, Kalani’s solution looks to respect students’ privacy while encouraging them to make better choices, admin says.
The youth vaping epidemic has seen more than 1.3 million adolescents vaping, according to the National Institutes for Health, and vaping has been a problem at Kalani for several years, according to Vice Principal Patrick Nishi.
This year, VP Nishi decided to take action and implemented new methods to stop kids from using nicotine in school.
“Mr. Nishi was the main operator for this and got all the funding and everything,” Vice Principal Colin Awa states. “When he joined a year and a half ago, he assessed the situation, saw how bad it was, and wanted to do something about it.”
Drug use at school has been brought up by concerned parents and students. Now that detectors are finally installed, they seem to have an effect on how much students use nicotine and marijuana in school restrooms.
“In the very short time school started till now I think the word has gotten out and we don’t smell [vape cigarettes] anymore,” VP Awa says.
Ka Leo has requested data on the number of Kalani students caught vaping, but it is not available.
Kalani partnered with Blue Shield Security Oahu, spent approximately $7,000 per vape detector and pays a monthly fee to clean and service the devices. Although expensive, they have been working so far and will soon be expanded to all bathrooms on campus.
The vice principals receive a text message when the detectors pick up the smell of vape or marijuana. Then, the vice principals alarm security. Security apprehends everyone in the restroom and brings them to the office. Because they were in the restroom when the alarm went off, admin has reasonable suspicion and students can be searched for contraband, Mr. Nishi explains.
Mr. Nishi hopes that the new vape detectors will make students shy away from smoking in the bathrooms and in school in general.
