HAWAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
OFFICE OF THE POLICE CHIEF
PHONE: 961-2244
APRIL 11, 2001
MEDIA RELEASE
Police Chief James S. Correa is advising Big Island motorists to drive with caution in the vicinity of school campuses for the duration of the strike.
Motorists should be aware of increased pedestrian traffic and traffic slowdowns in areas surrounding public schools, Correa said.
He urged motorists to exercise extra caution when entering or leaving public school facilities. He also urged both motorists and strikers walking the picket line to exercise patience and to cooperate in preventing any incidents from occurring between those entering the public facilities and those expressing their right to strike.
All public schools and college campuses have been closed since Thursday (April 5, 2001) because of the statewide strike by public school and college-level teachers.
As long as Hilo High, Hilo Intermediate and Hilo Union Elementary Schools remain closed, Waianuenue Avenue will be open to two-way traffic on weekday mornings, police said.
A one-way makai pattern is usually in effect from 7:15 to 8 a.m. Mondays through Fridays when school is in session, then reverts to the usual two-way pattern after school convenes.
Meanwhile, parents can check on the status of public schools by logging on to the Web site <www.doe.k12.hi.us/strike> maintained by the State Department of Education. They may also call a DOE number in Hilo at 974-4000.
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