Maui wrestling coach sues Hawaii DOE over wrongful termination

WAILUKU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A Baldwin High School wrestling coach is suing the Hawaiʻi Department of Education, alleging his due process rights were violated after he was removed from his position following anonymous complaints.

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Grant Nakamura returned home to Maui after competing in the 2008 Olympic trials and said he wanted to give back to local youth.

“I moved home and that was the first thing I wanted to do was open my wrestling club. I started in my garage and we got some good kids. We had some real good kids, won state titles,” Nakamura said.

Nakamura volunteered as a Baldwin High wrestling coach for 10 years before he was hired as head coach in 2024.

Complaints and removal

He said he was sidelined last year after the Hawaiʻi Department of Education told him it received anonymous complaints claiming he “may have allegedly created a hostile and unsafe athletics environment.”

Nakamura said he repeatedly tried to speak with someone from the department but was not given the opportunity to respond.

“It’s been almost a year, and I haven’t been heard,” Nakamura said.

Lawsuit and due process claims

His attorney, Karen Droscoski, said the department’s handling of the matter violated Nakamura’s right to due process.

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“The behavior and the conduct of the DOE is just very surprising, and we just want some answers, and it doesn’t seem like they are willing to provide us with any answers or give Grant an opportunity to respond,” Droscoski said.

Nakamura’s contract ends Tuesday. He said he has not been rehired and still does not know the reason.

“They’re frivolous allegations, with no merit,” Nakamura said. “The DOE has a protocol to follow, and they violated my due process. Instead, they should be out there and protecting their coaches and make sure that they’re okay, not violating their rights, and I know it’s happening to multiple coaches in the state. That’s why I’m speaking up.”

Next steps

The Department of the Attorney General said it will not comment on pending litigation.

“When you have a complaint, it should be looked into 100%. Look into it. Do it,” said Droscoski. “They’re not. So yeah, we’ll see how this plays out in court,” she said.

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The next court date is scheduled for next year.