In the event of a local emergency or an unplanned issue that would prevent a school from safely operating, school principals work in tandem with complex area superintendents to make decisions regarding short-term school closures.
Safety, Security & Emergency Preparedness
Pani kula
In the event of large-scale events such as a hurricane, we work with our partners in state and county emergency management to make a determination on whether a school should remain open. Many of our school campuses are designated emergency shelters that are activated by counties in consultation with the ʻOihana Hoʻoponopono Kūikawā Hawaiʻi (HI-EMA). County’s emergency response resources and information are below:
- Kulanakauhale & Kalana o Honolulu: Keena o ka Hooponopono ulia
- Kalana ʻo Hawaiʻi Island: ʻOihana Kūleʻa Kivila Kalana ʻo Hawaiʻi
- Maui County: Keʻena hoʻoponopono pilikia o Maui
- Kalana ʻo Kauaʻi: Keʻena hoʻoponopono pilikia o Kauaʻi
Pau ka mana
Power outages may occur during school hours. While it can be inconvenient, school administrators and state office leadership will closely monitor local county alerts. If a power outage occurs, in most cases a school campus will remain open. Generally, keeping students on campus is the safest choice.
In the event of a school closure, notification will be sent from the school directly to families and will also be posted to the HIDOE website. Please ensure that your child’s school has your most up-to-date contact information.
View information about Hawaiian Electric Co.’s Public Safety Power Shutoff Program.
Nā Kaʻina Hana Kūikawā
ʻO nā mea a pau schools conduct the following required drills (this wikiō hāʻawi i kahi ʻike nui):
- Lockdown: Loaʻa ka laka inā ʻike ʻia kahi hoʻoweliweli kūloko a i waho paha ma ke kula. Paʻa nā puka kula a pau a paʻa nā haumāna i nā lumi papa. ʻAʻole ʻae ʻia ke komo ʻana a i ʻole ka puka ʻana mai ke kula a hiki i ka hoʻolaha ʻia ʻana o ka "akaka loa".
- Puʻuhonua ma kahi: Puʻuhonua nā haumāna i nā wahi i koho ʻia e pale aku iā lākou mai nā mea pōʻino a i ʻole ka wā ʻino. ʻAʻole ʻae ʻia ke komo ʻana a i ʻole ka puka ʻana mai ke kula a hiki i ka hoʻolaha ʻia ʻana o ka "akaka loa".
- Evacuation (including fire): Certain emergencies may require students and staff to evacuate the school. Evacuations are conducted when it is no longer safe to remain on campus. In the event the emergency continues and students are not able to return to campus, parent or guardian reunification procedures will take place. Please familiarize yourself with your school’s reunification procedures.
- ʻO ke ōlaʻi: ʻo ka protocol e hāʻule, uhi a paʻa a paʻa ka haʻalulu.
- Tsunami: For schools in tsunami zones, this is an evacuation drill to a designated area away from the reach of tsunami waves.
Tsunami-Zone Nā kula
Nā kula that lie in tsunami zones practice evacuation based on a locally generated tsunami. This could result in a tsunami wave arriving on shore in 15-30 minutes. All schools practice evacuating tsunami zones within 10 minutes. Parents are directed to stay away from campus until the emergency has passed. Nā kula that lie within the primary tsunami evacuation zone (color code red) include:
- Oʻahu: Ala Wai Elementary, Jefferson Elementary, Haleʻiwa Elementary, Hauʻula Elementary, Iroquois Point Elementary, Kaʻaʻawa Elementary, Lāʻie Elementary, Māʻili Elementary, Nānāikapono Elementary, Sunset Beach Elementary, Waialua Elementary, Waiʻanae High, Waiʻanae Intermediate.
- Hawaiʻi: Chiefess Kapiʻolani Elementary, Kahakai Elementary, Keaukaha Elementary.
- Maui County: Kaunakakai Elementary, Kilohana Elementary.
- Kauaʻi: Hanalei Elementary, Kekaha Elementary.
The following table provides recommended guidance for “Distant Tsunami” on specific situations. These tsunamis can travel across the entire ocean basins and may take hours to reach land, allowing for more time to issue warnings and evacuate.
Tsunami warning | Nā kula within the evacuation zone | Nā kula outside the evacuation zone |
|---|---|---|
If a warning is issued prior to the start of the school day, school activity, and/or work day | • School will notify parents and/or guardians of the school closure. • Children should not be dropped off at school. • Follow the respective emergency management agency (EMA) instructions and wait until the “All Clear” is given. | • School will notify parents and/or guardians of the school closure. • Children should not be dropped off at school. • Follow the respective emergency management agency (EMA) instructions and wait until the “All Clear” is given. |
If a warning is issued during the school drop off and/or pick up time, normal school hours, a school event, or before/after school care (A+ Program) | School should notify parents and/or guardians of the following: (1) Students who are already on campus will remain in the care of the school and will evacuate per school’s emergency action plan (EAP); (2) Those on their way to the campus should stop and head out of the zone; (3) Parents, guardians, and/or students should not enter the inundation zone or come to the evacuation site until the “All Clear” is given by the respective emergency management agency (EMA). School will evacuate per plan and follow the respective emergency management agency (EMA) instructions and wait until the “All Clear” is given. | School should notify parents and/or guardians of the following: (1) Students who are already on campus will remain in the care of the school. Campus is safe as it is out of the evacuation zone; (2) Do not come to the campus to pick up your child as your child is safe and in the care of the school. School will follow the respective emergency management agency instructions and wait until the “All Clear” is given. |
Tsunami watch | Nā kula within the evacuation zone | Nā kula outside the evacuation zone |
If a watch is issued | • Follow the respective emergency management agency (EMA) instructions. • School should notify parents and/or guardians the school remains open. | • Follow the respective emergency management agency (EMA) instructions. • School should notify parents and/or guardians the school remains open. |
ʻIkepili pilikia no nā ʻohana
He manawa koʻikoʻi nā pilikia pilikia, akā pono e hōʻoiaʻiʻo ʻia nā mākua a me nā kahu hānai ua mākaukau nā limahana kula ma o nā hoʻomaʻamaʻa maʻamau a hoʻonui ʻia. Hiki i nā mākua a me nā kahu ke kōkua ma ka hana ʻana i kēia:
- E mākaukau no ka pilikia
- Ensure that your child’s emergency contact information is accurate and current.
- All HIDOE schools have emergency plans. Become familiar with your school’s emergency plan and parent/guardian reunification procedures in the event of a school evacuation.
- Take time to prepare your family’s emergency plan with your children. He waiwai waiwai ka Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) ma ka pūnaewele.
- In case of a school emergency: Although your first reaction would be to call or rush to your child’s school, please follow these tips:
- Do not call or rush to your child’s school. Phone lines and staff are needed for emergency response efforts.
- Do not phone your child. Staff and students are discouraged from using cell phone communication for safety reasons.
- E hoʻolohe i nā keena TV/radio kūloko no nā ʻōlelo makaʻala kūhelu kula.
- Rely only on official communication from school, public safety or HIDOE officials.
- Listen for official information regarding reunification with your child. Students will be released only to parents/guardians who are documented as emergency contacts and who present a picture ID such as a driver’s license, military ID or passport.
- E nānā i ka HIDOE pūnaewele a i ʻole ka pāpaho pāpili no nā mea hou pilikia.
Nā palapala hoʻopuka pilikia no nā mākua
Mokuna 19
In order to keep our schools safe, rules have been established relating to student misconduct. These rules also govern searches of students and seizures of property. Hawaiʻi Administrative Rules, Mokuna 19 (PDF), are derived from state law. It’s important that students and parents review this information to be aware of the consequences of a Chapter 19 violation.
Safety on and off campus
Police will be engaged when there is real or perceived danger involving our students or campuses. Administrators and staff will initiate safety protocols when incidents happen on campus, and facilitate communication with families, community groups and law enforcement when incidents involving students happen off campus.
Hawaiʻi’s law enforcement organizations are an important part of keeping school communities safe. Police community outreach educates students about safety.
Families should also speak with their children about basic safety measures when they are out in public and do not have a trusted adult nearby:
- E noho kaʻawale mai nā malihini, mai kamaʻilio a lawe i kekahi mea mai iā lākou.
- Mai hele i kahi me kahi āu i ʻike ʻole ai. Mai ʻae i kahi kaʻa mai kahi malihini.
- Inā hele mai kahi malihini iā ʻoe, e ʻimi koke i ke kōkua mai kahi kanaka makua hilinaʻi.
- E hoʻohana i ka ʻōnaehana hoa; pale i ka hele mehameha.
- Inā hopu ka malihini iā ʻoe, e hana i nā mea a pau e hoʻōki ai i ka malihini. E hoʻōho no ke kōkua.
- E hōʻike i kekahi hana kānalua i kahi kanaka makua hilinaʻi.
- Be alert of your surroundings and let others know where you will be and what time you will be back.
The surrounding school neighborhood and community are our partners in watching for and reporting suspicious activity around campuses. We encourage neighbors to report suspicious activity to school staff and/or law enforcement.
Hiki i ke kaiāulu ke aʻo hou aʻe e pili ana i kēia mau hana ma aneʻi:
Kula Safety Committees
Each school has a School Safety Committee charged with attaining the following goals:
- Increasing safety awareness.
- Building enthusiasm for safety programs.
- Hoʻemi a pale i nā ʻeha.
Connect with your kula to learn more.