Kamehameha Schools Kapālama mandates COVID-19 vaccine for all athletes.

Kamehameha Schools Kapālama sent out a notice saying “KSK individual and team sports will be available only to student-athletes, coaches, and athletic staff who have registered proof of full COVID-19 vaccination with KSK.” If they fail to do so they will not be permitted to participate in the sport.

Director of campus athletics and human performance, Rob Hesia said “It’s about safety. Athletics is one area that requires extra consideration and careful planning due to its close-contact nature where our Kapālama haumāna are interacting in close quarters with their teammates as well as student-athletes from other schools. The virus continues to spread, especially through our unvaccinated communities. This step demonstrates our commitment to the safety of our Kapālama ʻohana and our fellow school athletes.”

There are mixed feelings about this mandate. Hiapo Kaʻapana, a senior on the KSK football team stated, “ I see both sides of people’s decisions, but personally I am for the vaccine mandate. I do see the other side of it though, I feel like you should have the right to what you want to put in your body.”

Hiapo is also worried about losing his chance to play in his last year of high school, “Having our junior [year] wiped away from covid was heartbreaking, training for almost over a year to have 2 scrimmages was sad, and seeing the seniors miss out on their last season. I think taking the vaccine would help us get there so that we don’t go through that again.”

This vaccine mandate comes into effect on October 2.

For more information on the vaccine mandate please visit: https://www.ksbe.edu/health_updates/kapalama/athletics/