High school senior leaves graduation after being told to remove leis

Minutes before the ceremony, she was told to either remove her leis or she couldn't walk.
MORE: www.cbs8.com/article/news/com...

[@SV_1904]

This is ridiculous, shame on the school for this absolutely petty action.

[@WeylandLabs]

Sounds like a lawsuit - get um ! 🤙

[@jagpilotohio]

I’m still confused by the lack of an explanation. What was the actual problem with wearing flowers?

[@HLNA14]

Karens gonna do what Karens do. Leis have been a long standing tradition at many a graduation ceremonies.

[@sikay6340]

Lame… what’s the issue? Since when can’t you wear them?

[@SV_1904]

Y’all should sue them

[@beckycollet5677]

That is nuts! Lei's are beautiful cultural tradition. The staff member who stopped her from walking should be fired or put on leave till re-trained.

[@RWB20]

Ridiculous. Seems spiteful by someone with power.

[@Khris90210]

Cultural inclusivity and sensitivity being demolished by ignorant and repulsive individuals.Praise to the family for walking out of the situation with dignity and respect to their culture!

[@Rdog760]

hope the teacher/administrator realized how they ruined a kids BIG DAY! MESSED UP! FIRE THEM!

[@Veronicagoofy6]

Just let em wear the flowers! Geez 🙄

[@assatawells8224]

RIDICULOUS! EASTLAKE HIGH SCHOOL is very diverse and the students have been able to wear their cultural adornments for YEARS. My son graduated from this school in 2005 and wore KENTE CLOTH as did many of the other African American students. The two women shown in the video chose to be rigid and mean spirited because there is ALWAYS room for flexibility.RIDICULOUS and shameful.Additionally , of ALL ethnicities are seen wearing Leis because they’re beautiful adornments.

[@cittiavaticano]

it was a noble act to walk away to respect who you are and those who came before you that gave you your name. the school should be ashamed and pay a price for robbing her of this. though in the end she walked away with something more valuable. dignity and honour for herself, family, and her people.

[@jomarielopez2229]

Insane!!!!!! Stop the insanity!!!!!!

[@jimbajacamper2435]

You Won Girl ! Rock On ! Stand Tall !

[@MarshWaha]

Yeah, she won because she stood up for herself, but in this case it’s still feels like a loss because she should have been allowed to just walk with this lei instead of having this pointless conversation and argument about oh you can’t wear this to graduation. So I don’t know in someways it’s a win because she did stand up for herself, but it’s a loss because she didn’t get to walk and on top of that the school district didn’t discipline their staff or fire them.

[@jimbajacamper2435]

@@MarshWaha it's a win because she was brave and strong enough to stand for herself ! Courage in front of others !

[@thevibe7415]

Please sue them you’ll make your money

[@eddiemeixueiro4841]

Sounds about right. The admin at Eastlake are incompetent

[@user-hi1ou4sy1f]

I grew up in Hawaii, graduated high school and college in Hawaii, and live in Hawaii now. I believe in 100% of the graduations the traditional Flower Leis are given to the graduate AFTER THE CEREMONY. The grad gets diploma then walks back to stand for the rest of the grads to get their diplomas. Then after the ceremony was completed the grads went to the pre-designated areas, usually marked by the first letter of last name, and all of the family and friends met them there to give the leis, gifts, envelopes, and congratulations. That is the normal everyday procedure of any graduation ceremony that I ever went to or participated in while living and growing up in Hawaii.

[@lindastonebraker2512]

She will never get that moment back! Never ever!

[@silversong4VR]

Where was the Principal that gave approval? They should have been at the event and called in to take care of this situation before it escalated. Also, the school should call back this student and hold a ceremony for her while she's wearing her lei.

[@nicolabjork2533]

Why does the news clip not state the reason for the exclusion? Surely someone must have asked the obvious “WHY?”

[@laurence1643]

Those staff members are incompetent, overbearing, pathetic dolts !

[@assatawells8224]

With no common sense or judgement.

[@marlin3043]

I thought school leaders were supposed to be smart! 🤔 I see a lawsuit in the near future and a few people fired without their pension 😳

[@Titaloves]

I would have told my daughter to hide it under her gown and right when they call her name bring it out and wear it.

[@TheOneshot78]

Sue the school district

[@arlevale]

The school employee should be placed on leave . I hope the parent pursue legal action

[@kapulono]

Lawsuit! Lawsuit! Absolutely not just for the compensation but to send a message. I work at a school and I know how some of these knucklehead admits on a power trip can act. This was already permitted and allowed by the principal. Those dummies who gave the family an ultimatum like that should be fired!

[@helenbierman3990]

I just left the school a voicemail opposing their action. Please call them, flood their phone with our calls

[@jc6967]

Please please sue the school district for discrimination, there's enough evidence and their admittance to blatent discrimination with their statement. At the very least the money won in the lawsuit can go towards her college. Those teachers/staff should be fired for discrimating against a student's race and cultureal practices.

[@dancemaniac3868]

They literally sell leis outside my kids' graduations because everyone wears one. What a strange thing for this school to do.

[@MarshWaha]

I feel really bad for this girl. I mean it’s too bad. She didn’t have any official paperwork with all the signatures of the board of education and superintendent as well I think saying that she was allowed to do this. This is terrible. I cannot believe that the staff member stopped her from doing this and that her family had to go through this and basically stand up for her, which I’m very proud of them, but and her for standing up for herself, and for not letting you know, people squash her like an ant. But this is a very unfortunate circumstance, and honestly that Member needs to be fired discrimination I don’t care where it is America. It should be illegal in all 50 states of the United States of America, and there should be severe punishment for discrimination. Know I was discriminated on when I when I went off to college, and tried to become a certified nursing assistant, and I got discriminated based on my disability, which, of course is a different matter, but still, this is just ridiculous.

[@michaelbailey1352]

Sue the living crap out of the board members that refused her to walk at least she'll have money for her college tuition and they won't try this crap again they just violated her or her self-expression freedom of expression that's constitutional right they violated her rights sue the crap out of them guarantee you'll have attorney standing in line which one wants to take the lawsuit for pro bono

[@ritagriffith4798]

This is bullshit. She should be able to wear them.

[@volleyplay1]

First off these are flowers, right? Flowers! So I would say you would not be able to wear a corsage or boutonniere at your Junior Prom either. All these school officials are just a bunch of controlling Karens.

[@nghtguy13]

That's what I was thinking. I see a lot of people wear some sort of flowers during graduation. Especially wrist corsages.

[@jayy9625]

Put that KAREN in jail!

[@SabMaria7ym]

I consider immediately dismissing this staff, and also the director, for not having corrected and done the right thing. It is not acceptable that children and young people suffer this type of psychological and emotional abuse.

[@nadogrl]

Ridiculous!

[@kerplunk9434]

Why do they even care? People just looking to create problems for others.

[@goldbeanie9638]

It would be nice to have graduations back to the way they used to be.

[@antisocialmoth]

Who is the staff member? What's her name?

[@terrig4750]

Dang what do they have to get staff to pull up flowers outside of the graduation to. This makes me so sad 13 years of school and finally graduate and they didn't let her on stage a major milestone in life over flowers OMG they have to do more than I'm sorry.

[@IslandVibesLife]

Wow 🤦🏽‍♀️

[@user-or2cy3xz6n]

Shame on that school!! Take action parents!!

[@pilarsanchez7446]

Sad and shame on the School! She worked hard for it!

[@Irishtroll]

What school

[@jomarielopez2229]

East Lake High School.

[@deekang6244]

@@jomarielopez2229yes, but where?

[@user-pj2ru6ke7d]

I’ve seen all kinds of decorations on graduation gowns and headpieces😤

[@sonnyvogt2389]

They need to force law suit with a clause put in where're responsible parties be suspended for 1 school year without pay. Maybe the next time someone wants to push there own agenda to an innocent person they will think about this

[@colingan9412]

It’s because of jealousy,everyone else didn’t have a beautiful great lei to wear.

[@sherfos1961]

Honestly, what is the harm in letting her where her traditional leis? None, there is absolutely no harm! What a ridiculous thing to ruin someone’s special moment over!

[@alexsolo4085]

Total discrimination. People need to lose their jobs. There needs to be a statement made. Those school employees were out of their mind and totally incompetent. They have no business working in a school setting

[@raygat1544]

You better not come to the islands of Hawaii!!!

[@chiyokob2086]

What the heck?

[@helenbierman3990]

UNacceptable! Why are you discriminating against flowers?! Leis are a positive, lovely gift from family. Wow, this is shocking and biased and ridiculous. Admin, are you jealous, envious?? Shame on you

[@paulacampbell7192]

Shame on that school.

[@anthonythomas1504]

SUE!

[@Autisticmusician715]

Very petty.

[@michaelbailey1352]

Yeah I said never notice back to you just cost yourselves a couple million dollars

[@manonamission2000]

did they allow the keffiyeh??

[@frankthetank4101]

🤙🏽🤙🏽🤙🏽

[@TheBjc1964]

And the lawsuit heard all around the world. That school’s staff should be ashamed of themselves and should be disciplined as the principal had already given permission for it to be worn. Keep em in court until everyone and their low income families come to the top of the housing waitlist. And that means when many of those already in housing see the undertaker. And that means for the staff and the school a lot of money being spent on litigation and then the taxpayers of that school district should be very angry and cause them a lot of embarrassment and they need to lose federal funding for a good while and when it happens and they end up being shuttered, they should go to the media including their local news station and stand there and tell the truth about what they have done or remember that God also delivers justice and God’s justice is the highest and most powerful and supreme!!! No one, not even school staff are above the law and most of all, God the father almighty. Now Goddam give this girl a do over in the fall when the students return from Summer vacation.

[@starrystarrynight6281]

Why can’t students just be respectful and not try to steal the limelight from the other students. It’s selfish. It would look like a costume ball if everybody choose their particular “look.” You aren’t there to promote a cultural preference…you are there to receive a diploma.

[@rhondawoodard4144]

So wrong

[@dapinkcat]

If they allow lei's then you gotta allows Hamas garb and the rest. Put the lei on after you walk.

[@ryannt]

Both staff in the video were minority...

[@crimestillpayz]

But I bet they would encourage rainbows or lgbt flags smfh what bs

[@OCIncognito]

No, this looks like an attempt to exclude all symbols from the dress code after some MAGA types destroyed all common sense.

[@zb611]

Absolutely disgusting!!! I hope she sues them & gets a free ride to college & extra. Curious how many kids were sporting LGBTQIAGHDRKSMSNZJJSJENE ++++ garb

[@jennycortes8917]

People saying "sue them and get your money" missed economics at school. First of there's rules to have an equal environment . If you don't like the rules dont join the event. You're not graduating in Hawaii. So follow the rules and stop playing the "inclusion " card to get what you want like a baby.

[@vipervr326]

I’m so glad that they blurred that staff member space in this video because that is my godmother.

[@bradmomohara6376]

Not about DEI. Here in Hawaii we don’t wear leis during the ceremony. There is not cultural significance or importance in wearing leis during graduation. My school, my kids school, my friend’s kid’s school, etc. If the kids wanted to wear leis and the school allowed, then fine. But we graduate as a class, not individuals. We only wear our academic achievements with our graduation robes. Leis are given after the ceremony to congratulate and celebrate the student. Also, for years, everyday, you follow school rules and policy, and on the day to celebrate your achievement, you decide to rebel?

[@theark917]

It's a Christian school, and pride in race should have been put aside and only glory of JESUS should have been glorified

[@primelasst2955]

It is a public school, not a Christian school, therefore, they have a case, had permission, and the pamphlet did confirm that they can show something like the lei since it is a part of their ancestry.

[@apepex1464]

Leis are worn after the ceremonies and not during, they want their daughter to wear it during the ceremony. This is their personal tradition and not Hawaii’s tradition.

[@anthonythomas1504]

Oh shut up.

[@jagpilotohio]

Jesus you are on another planet.

[@nikkibelarmino6634]

Yes exactly!!! Being born & raised in hawaii every graduation in Hawaii, you receive your leis, flowers, lei po'o, Haku lei etc... AFTER. All these mainlanders commenting dont even understand so they need to shut up.

[@ASD-DAD]

Question: Should schools allow students to wear anything they want based on their background, heritage, culture? If so, should Japanese students allowed to wear kimonos in schools, should muslims be allowed to wear hijabs, should Mexicans be allowed to wear sombreros, should German students be allowed to wear Dirndls and lederhosen, if you live in this country, please respect its culture, do not expect America to accomodate everyone's culture, beliefs needs, am sick and tired of this BS, ridiculous. Do not demand, or expect the rest of us to follow your traditions. I am with the school, you people can't follow policies.

[@HildaRealtor]

Question Aren't we in America? Shouldn't schools teach and respect what this country stands for? i.e FREEDOM in case you forgot.

[@anthonythomas1504]

You drama queen. They're flowers.

[@ASD-DAD]

@anthonythomas1504 It starts with small things kid,

[@vipervr326]

Dude, I completely agree with you. You’re the only comment that’s with the school and I think that’s great.

[@terentia123]

Even by your own logic, you're so wrong. Hawaii is in this country! It's one of the 50 states of United States of America. So Hawaiian culture is USA's culture. How dumb are you?

[@brucemedanich9209]

Pure B S. !!!

[@charlesw322]

is long as they don't allow flaming homosexual students to be wearing the flag then I guess I'm okay with that because if this girl gets to wear these then Iraqi people get to wear prohomes stuff and then it becomes a big thing so I kind of understand you just need to put the lays on after you're done and before you go up there

[@shawn6796]

Hawaii occupied! That girl is Hawaiian and has the right to wear her 🌺 Go 🖕 yourself nazi!