TUESday, Sept. 8, 1 p.m.
夏威夷州教育部 public schools in Kauaʻi County will remain closed to students through Friday, Sept. 11, as schools assess storm impacts and prepare campuses to resume operations following Hurricane Lowell.
The closure to students includes all public schools on Kauaʻi and Niihau High & Elementary School. The decision aligns with Gov. Josh Green and Mayor Derek Kawakami’s continued closure of state and county offices on Kauaʻi through Friday as recovery efforts continue across the island.
Along with the state Department of Accounting and General Services, HIDOE and school personnel will be assessing facilities, addressing storm-related impacts and preparing campuses for the return of students. HIDOE employees — including teachers and educational assistants — will receive reporting instructions directly from their supervisors and schools based on their roles and local conditions.
Facility assessments are ongoing, with preliminary storm damage reported so far at Kauaʻi High School and Kekaha Elementary School. Widespread power outages have limited schools’ ability to complete formal damage reports, and access to some campuses is limited.
The Department is preparing for Kauaʻi County students to return to school Monday, Sept. 14, pending completion of campus assessments. Families will receive updates directly from their schools as recovery work continues.
All HIDOE public schools and offices on Oʻahu are scheduled to reopen Wednesday, Sept. 9, following Tuesday’s closures. Schools in Maui County and on Hawaiʻi Island remain open.
The Department continues to coordinate with state and county emergency management officials and will provide updates through official communication channels.
TUESday, Sept. 8, 6 A.m.
Four Hawaiʻi State Department of Education public schools in West Maui will be closed Tuesday, Sept. 8, due to unsafe travel conditions along Honoapiʻilani Highway in the Olowalu area following impacts from Hurricane Lowell.
The following schools will be closed:
- 纳希娜娜公主小学
- 卡美哈美哈国王三世小学
- 拉海纳中级
- 拉海纳鲁纳高中
Storm-related conditions in the Olowalu area have made the highway unsafe for school buses and other vehicles, affecting access to the West Maui campuses for employees and families. Schools are notifying staff and families directly.
The closures are in addition to the previously announced closures of all HIDOE public schools and offices on Oʻahu and in Kauaʻi County today.
At this time, all other HIDOE public schools in Maui County and on Hawaiʻi Island are scheduled to be open today. The Department continues to assess storm impacts and will communicate any additional changes to school operations through official channels as needed.
Monday, Sept. 7, 5 p.m.
All Hawai‘i State Department of Education public schools and offices on Oʻahu and in Kauaʻi County will be closed Tuesday, Sept. 8, due to anticipated weather conditions and their potential impacts on safe school operations.
The closures include all public schools on Oʻahu, all public schools on Kauaʻi, Niihau High & Elementary School, and Department offices on Oʻahu and in Kauaʻi County.
All school-related activities in the affected counties scheduled for Tuesday are also canceled, including athletic events and practices, extracurricular activities, meetings and other school events.
The closures are being implemented in coordination with state and county emergency management officials as Hurricane Lowell approaches the islands.
HIDOE teams have been preparing school facilities and coordinating with emergency management partners ahead of the storm. Schools and offices will be assessed following the storm to determine when operations can safely resume.
At this time, HIDOE schools and offices in Maui County and on Hawaiʻi Island are scheduled to operate as normal Tuesday. The Department continues to closely monitor conditions statewide and will announce any additional changes to school operations as needed.
Employees and families are encouraged to monitor official Department communications for updates and follow guidance from state and county emergency management officials.
Monday, Sept. 7, 9 a.m.
All 15 Hawaiʻi State Department of Education public schools on Kauaʻi, along with Niihau High & Elementary School and Department offices in Kauaʻi County, will be closed Tuesday, Sept. 8, due to anticipated impacts from Hurricane Lowell.
All school-related activities in Kauaʻi County scheduled for Tuesday are also canceled, including athletic events and practices, extracurricular activities, meetings and other school events.
The closures are being implemented in coordination with state and county emergency management officials as Lowell approaches the western Hawaiian Islands.
Kauaʻi and Niihau are under a Hurricane Warning. The current forecast has Lowell passing west of Kauaʻi and Niihau, with the potential for damaging winds, heavy rainfall, flooding and hazardous surf.
HIDOE teams have been preparing school facilities and coordinating with emergency management partners ahead of the storm. Schools and offices will be assessed following Lowell’s passage to determine when operations can safely resume.
The Department continues to closely monitor conditions statewide and will announce any additional changes to school operations as needed.
Employees and families are encouraged to monitor HIDOE’s official communication channels for updates and to follow guidance from state and county emergency management officials.
