From a DOE press release:

Nine public schools in the Honolulu District went into lockdown and/or were placed under heightened alert today after a murder suspect escaped this morning near Circuit Court in Downtown Honolulu. 

Beginning 9:45 a.m., Royal Elementary and Central Intermediate School initiated lockdowns on their campuses as a precaution because of their proximity to Circuit Court. 

At around the same time Department of Education (DOE) implemented a “heightened alert” status for schools in affected areas as police searched the Honolulu district for the escapee. Those schools included Central Middle, Royal Elementary and Pauoa Elementary. 

Heightened alert status requires all staff to be vigilantly attentive and watchful to activity and visitors on campuses. Lockdown status is a “no-one-in/no-one-out” situation in which visitors are prohibited from entering the school campus.

Washington Middle initiated a lockdown at 11:30 a.m. Shortly after, the Honolulu Police Department (HPD) set up a command post at the school’s King Street parking lot. Other lockdowns occurred at the following schools: Lincoln Elementary, Lunalilo Elementary, Manoa Elementary, McKinley High, Noelani Elementary, and Stevenson Middle. 

Public school schedules allow for an early dismissal on Wednesdays. The lockdown status was lifted at schools’ respective dismissal times. 

Courtesy of rjones0856

— Alia Wong