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Ten Baldwin High School students were sent to the Maui Memorial Medical Center emergency room and one was admitted to the hospital Tuesday after ingesting an "over-the-counter substance" that a student brought to school, according to Principal Catherine Kilborn.
On Friday afternoon, the school posted on its Twitter page a letter from Kilborn to parents and guardians.
It reported a "student misconduct incident."
"A student brought an over-the-counter substance in powder form, mixed it with water and shared the drink with students," Kilborn wrote. "Some of the students who ingested the liquid had adverse reactions, including nausea, vomiting and hallucinations, among others."
The school called 911 emergency dispatchers to get medical attention, she wrote.
"Even though not all of the students exhibited signs of illness, it was recommended by first responders and Poison Control that all of the students who had consumed the drink should be taken to the hospital."
Kilborn told The Maui News that three students "appeared to be sick."
Earlier Friday, she responded via email to questions from The Maui News that were prompted by a phone call from a concerned parent. The parent reported that some students coughed up blood and "passed out."
But Kilborn said the parent's information was incorrect.
She acknowledged there were ill students, but "to my knowledge and observation, none 'passed out.' One was admitted to the hospital."
In her letter to parents, Kilborn said illicit drugs and intoxicating substances are strictly prohibited contraband items at school or off campus at school-sponsored activities.
"This Class-A offense can be met with school disciplinary actions including detention, suspension and dismissal, or, if deemed necessary, the case may be referred to police for further action," she wrote.
Lindsay Chambers, a media specialist with the Department of Education, said the department could not discuss any disciplinary action taken against a student.
Kilborn told parents that the safety and well-being of "students and staff are of utmost importance."
She asked parents to remind their children not to ingest unknown substances and drinks that may be harmful and not to bring contraband items to campus.
The Baldwin incident comes about two weeks after police were called to Iao Intermediate School to investigate an anonymous terroristic threat scrawled in graffiti on a bathroom wall. A police officer was stationed on campus as a safety precaution.
A concerned parent told The Maui News that a student had threatened to bring a loaded gun to school.