With National Custodian Day coming up on Oct. 2, we are taking a moment to recognize and celebrate the many dedicated custodians who work hard every day to keep our schools clean, safe and welcoming places for learning.

Following the recent storms, custodial teams across public schools stepped up and worked tirelessly to help campuses recover and ensure they were ready for students and staff. Every day, custodians play an important role in keeping schools running smoothly. From preparing classrooms and common areas to responding to unexpected needs, their work does not go unnoticed. Mahalo to all of our custodians for everything they do to keep our schools running smoothly!

Meet the custodial and facilities team at Kapa‘a Elementary School as they share how the community came together to support the school’s recovery following Hurricane Lowell earlier this month.

Q: What was the campus like when you first returned after Hurricane Lowell? 
A: When we first returned, our campus was covered in windblown debris, fallen branches and trees, and mud was tracked across open walkways. Some buildings had minor water damage but overall we were fortunate to not have major damages to buildings.

Q: How did the team decide where and how to start? What was the most difficult part of the cleanup?
A: Where we started: We prioritized safety and accessibility first—clearing main walkways, removing hazardous branches, and checking structures for water damage or safety risks. The most difficult part: the physical toll of clearing heavy, waterlogged material and debris, along with the race against the clock to make sure classrooms were safe and dry enough for students and teachers to return. We asked the community for their help and did it in one day.

Q: How did teachers, staff, students and/or community members help with the recovery after Hurricane Lowell?
A: It was a true community effort and truly demonstrated the power of laulima (many hands working together). Staff members helped by picking up leaves and branches all over campus. Community volunteers dropped by to assist with ground clearing, and our PTA brought food and drinks to keep our energies up. Seeing everyone step in made a huge difference in getting the school back on its feet quickly.

Q: What does taking care of the Kapa‘a Elementary campus mean to this team?
A: For us, taking care of the campus is about providing a safe home away from home for our students and staff. It’s our way of showing aloha and supporting the school’s mission—when the campus is clean, safe and running smoothly, teachers can focus on teaching and students can focus on learning. Our team’s motto is “Together We Grow.”

Q: What are some of the day-to-day duties of the custodial team? How do you folks divide the work?
A: From early morning facility checks and sanitization to managing trash, pressure washing and repairing fixtures, our team keeps the campus safe and running smoothly. We divide up by sections so everyone has their own daily area of responsibility, but we operate with a “one team” mindset whenever big projects arise.

Q: What’s something students might not notice that you do every day?
A: While students see us emptying bins and sweeping, a lot of our work happens before the first bell rings. We do early morning safety walkthroughs, test lighting and facility hardware, check plumbing, sanitize high-touch areas and secure the grounds so students step into a safe, comfortable environment every single day.

Q: What is your team most proud of when you look at the campus now?
A: We’re most proud of how resilient our campus is. Looking at the clean walkways, green spaces and restored buildings, you’d never know how chaotic it was right after the storm. Knowing that our hard work restored a safe place for our kids to learn makes all the long hours worth it.

Q: What advice do you have for people considering becoming a custodian?
A: Take pride in what you do. It’s a physically demanding job, but your work creates the foundation for everything that happens at a school. If you approach every day with a strong work ethic, a good sense of teamwork and genuine care for the school community—it becomes a deeply rewarding career.