Lawmakers have pushed schools to open their facilities for recreational use, but the education department has raised concerns about liability and safety.

The playground at ʻAikahi Elementary School is perfect for Maya Childress’ three kids. The slides and climbing structures are small enough for toddlers to safely play on weekends, and the large monkeypod trees and benches offer parents a shady spot to watch their kids.

The only problem: Childress and her kids need to jump the school’s fence or crawl under a gate every time they want to play. The Kailua playground on ʻAikahi Elementary’s campus sits behind a locked gate and is surrounded by no trespassing signs, warning the public that kids should only use the equipment under the supervision of school staff.

Even still, ʻAikahi Elementa

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