Veteran principal fights removal after $2.5M school recording studio dispute

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Michael Harano, the principal of Washington Middle School for 25 years, has been placed on paid leave and is under investigation following a routine audit, according to Harano and his union.

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The suspension appears connected to a $2.5 million professional-grade audio recording studio built on campus.

Harano said complex area superintendent Linell Dilwith informed him he was under investigation but did not provide specifics.

“I don’t even know what the audit says,” Harano said. “Interestingly enough, she said she hadn’t gotten it either.”

‘They’ve been very vague’

The Hawaii Government Employees Association (HGEA), which represents Harano, said the Hawaii State Department of Education (HIDOE) has not provided adequate justification for removing him from campus.

“It’s not as if they are able to identify specific and serious allegations against him,” HGEA Executive Director Randy Perreira said. “They’ve been very vague at the DOE.”

Harano described the moment he was escorted off campus.

“They take your key, they take your laptop, you took your badge, right?” Harano said. “And they wait for you to drive out of the grounds. It’s like I did something criminal.”

The Line Studio

The recording studio, known as the Line Studio, received legislative approval in 2015 and was used by Disney for the new “Lilo & Stitch” movie.

The concept, as described in a video about the facility, was to bring professionals on campus to inspire students toward production or music careers while teaching the physics, math, and science of sound. Professionals would pay to use the studio, with proceeds going toward maintaining the facility.

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In a statement, HIDOE officials indicated that arrangement was inappropriate.

“The Department has a responsibility to ensure that publicly funded educational resources are used for their intended purpose and in ways that directly benefit public school students,” the statement read.

The HIDOE also said it is “committed to fully integrating the recording studio into student learning and ensuring Washington Middle School students, as well as students across public schools, have meaningful opportunities to benefit from this unique educational resource.”

Studio director also out

Harano’s interim replacement reversed several hiring decisions he made for the coming school year.

Among those not returning is Sam Fong, a former public school music teacher who became an audio engineer and led construction and management of the studio since 2015.

Fong said he was told he was not the top candidate after interviewing for a position overseeing a project he helped build.

“I have to go to an interview for a project that I spent 10 years of my life, blood and sweat,” Fong said. He is now unemployed.

Perreira said both departures represent a loss for the state.

“This is a world-class facility that the DOE and the state should be proud of,” Perreira said. “And it is shameful to see that both the principal who made this happen, along with the individual, the director who had brought the studio to life, are now effectively replaced.”

Harano said he intends to fight the suspension.

“I’m not gonna go retiring, slink off in the background,” Harano said. “I’m gonna fight this. I think the DOE did me wrong, and it needs to be fixed.”

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The HIDOE did not explain the personnel decisions.