Update, Aug. 17, 7 p.m.

The Hawaiʻi State Department of Education will resume normal operations at most public schools statewide on Tuesday, Aug. 18, following post-storm campus assessments and recovery efforts. All state and complex area offices will reopen on Tuesday.

All public schools on Kauaʻi, Maui, Molokai and Lānaʻi will reopen to students and staff.

Some schools on Oʻahu and Hawaiʻi Island will remain closed to students Tuesday as crews continue addressing storm-related health and safety issues, utility service and other conditions affecting campus operations. At some of these campuses, staff will report to work to continue preparations for reopening.

Throughout Monday, school leaders, facilities personnel and designated staff assessed campuses, restored operations and prepared facilities for the safe return of students and employees. Power and other utility service has gradually been restored to affected campuses.

MOKU HAWAI'I 

Following announcements by Gov. Josh Green and Hawaiʻi County Mayor Kimo Alameda, all Hawaiʻi Island public schools will remain closed to students Tuesday. Employees will report unless their school is among those identified below as closed to both students and staff.

The following Hawai‘i Island schools will be closed to students and staff Tuesday while health and safety issues are addressed:

• Keonepoko Elementary
• Elementary View Mountain
• Pāhoa Elementary
• Pāhoa High & Intermediate
• Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole Elementary

Previously announced extended closures for students and staff on Hawaiʻi Island also remain in effect:

• Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary School – closed through Thursday, Aug. 20.
• Nāʻālehu Elementary School – closed through Thursday, Aug. 20.

O'AHU

The majority of Oʻahu public schools will reopen to students and staff Tuesday.

The following O‘ahu schools will remain closed to all staff and students Tuesday while health and safety issues are addressed:

• Daniel K. Inouye Elementary
• Kaʻaʻawa Elementary 
• Lāʻie Elementary 
• Kiekie City Pearl

However, if power is restored and conditions allow, these schools may reopen. Families and staff will be notified directly of any changes.

The following Oʻahu schools will be closed to students only and school staff will report:

Honolulu/East Oʻahu

• Kalihi Kai Elementary
• King Liholiho Elementary
• King William C. Lunalilo Elementary
• Linapuni Elementary
• ʻO ke awāwa ʻo Niu Waena

Windward Oʻahu

• ʻĀhuimanu Elementary
• ʻAikahi Elementary
• Hauʻula Elementary
• Kalāheo High
• Ke kula haʻahaʻa o Mōkapu

Central O‘ahu

• ʻAiea Elementary
• Helemano Elementary
• Ke Kula ʻo Pearl Harbor Elementary
• ʻO Major Sheldon Wheeler Elementary
• ʻO Major Sheldon Wheeler Middle
• 1SG Samuel K. Solomon Elementary 

West O‘ahu

• Elementary Lae Iroquois
• Waiʻanae Elementary
• Waiʻanae High
• Waiʻanae Intermediate

Families at schools that remain closed to students will receive reopening updates directly from their schools and through official HIDOE communication channels.

As of 6 p.m. Monday, HIDOE had received approximately 100 storm-related work orders statewide — 80 on O‘ahu and 28 on neighbor islands.

The Department recognizes that some students, families and employees continue to experience storm impacts in their homes and communities. We appreciate their patience and understanding, as well as the work of school employees, facilities crews, utility workers, first responders and emergency management partners throughout the response and recovery.

Update, Aug. 16, 6 p.m.

Following assessments of school campuses and surrounding community conditions, the Hawaiʻi State Department of Education will keep public schools and offices closed statewide on Monday, Aug. 17.

The additional closure will allow time to complete campus safety assessments, restore utilities where necessary and address storm-related impacts.

The Department will continue working with county and state partners and will provide updates regarding Tuesday’s operations as additional information becomes available.

Previously announced extended closures on Hawai‘i Island for Nā‘ālehu Elementary and Ka‘ū High & Pāhala Elementary School remain in effect.

Update, Aug. 16, 10 a.m.

Hawaiʻi State Department of Education school leaders, facilities personnel and state and county partners are continuing to evaluate storm-related impacts on schools and take necessary actions for reopening.

The HIDOE announced the following school closures on Hawaiʻi Island due to ongoing impacts from Hurricane Lala: 

• Nā‘ālehu Elementary School will remain closed to students and staff Monday, Aug. 17, through Thursday, Aug. 20, due to storm-related impacts to the campus and classrooms, as well as road closures affecting safe access to the school. Public schools statewide are already closed Friday, Aug. 21, in observance of Statehood Day.
• Ka‘ū High & Pāhala Elementary School will be closed Monday, Aug. 17, while the Department continues to assess campus conditions and roadway accessibility.

The Department recognizes that many Hawaiʻi Island families and employees continue to experience impacts from the storm in their homes and communities. The safety of students and staff remains the Department’s highest priority.

Families at both schools will receive updates directly from their schools regarding instructional plans and reopening timelines as additional information becomes available.

The Department continues to assess conditions at schools statewide. Additional updates regarding Monday’s school operations, if needed, will be announced later today through official HIDOE communication channels.

The HIDOE extends its gratitude to first responders, emergency management personnel, utility crews and school employees who are working to support affected communities and safely restore operations.

Update, Aug. 14 , 10 a.m.

The Hawaiʻi State Department of Education continues to closely monitor Tropical Storm Lala and is working in coordination with state and county emergency management officials as the storm approaches the state.

Based on the latest weather conditions and forecasts, the HIDOE is expanding previously announced closures on Hawaiʻi Island to include: 

• Beginning 5:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday, all HIDOE campuses and offices on Hawaiʻi Island, Maui, Lānaʻi and Molokai will close. 
• Saturday and Sunday, all  Oʻahu and Kauaʻi campuses and offices will close.

The cancellations include school-sponsored extracurricular activities, athletics and community use of school facilities. Previously scheduled school-related events and activities during a campus’ closure period will be canceled or postponed.

All HIDOE public schools statewide are continuing with normal school-day operations today, Aug. 14. Hawai‘i Island and Maui County school principals may cancel after-school activities this afternoon based on local conditions.

HIDOE offices statewide will operate normal business hours today.

The Department will continue to monitor weather conditions and assess any impacts to school campuses. A decision regarding school operations for Monday will be made through official channels as information becomes available, and communicated to families and staff.

Previous coverage

The Department will continue to monitor weather conditions and assess any impacts to school campuses. A decision regarding school operations for Monday will be made  through official channels as information becomes available, and communicated to families and staff.

The Hawaiʻi State Department of Education (HIDOE) is closely monitoring Tropical Storm Lala and working in coordination with state and county emergency management officials as the storm approaches the state.

Based on current weather conditions and forecasts, all HIDOE public schools on Hawaiʻi Island will maintain normal school-day operations on Friday, Aug. 14. In-person instruction will continue as scheduled. School principals may cancel select after school activities on Friday afternoon.

HIDOE offices on Hawaiʻi Island will maintain normal business hours.

From 5:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14, all Hawaiʻi Island public school campuses and offices will close through Sunday, Aug. 16. All previously scheduled school-related events and activities during the closure period will be canceled or postponed.

Emergency management officials have advised that decisions regarding potential school closures on other islands be made as conditions and forecasts become clearer.

Hawaiʻi Island public schools and offices are expected to resume normal school-day operations on Monday, Aug. 17.

HIDOE will continue to closely monitor conditions and coordinate with state and county emergency management officials and will share updates through official channels as information becomes available.