Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022
5 a.m. – Hawai‘i Island schools remain open to students and staff
All HIDOE campuses on Hawai‘i Island are scheduled to remain open to students and staff going forward unless otherwise noted.
Monday, Nov. 28, 2022
5 p.m. – Joint statement from Hawai‘i Island Complex Area Superintendents
"Based on the latest updates, we are cautiously optimistic but continue to monitor conditions closely and follow the guidance and direction from Hawai‘i County Civil Defense.
As with all emergencies, the health and safety of our students and staff is our top priority. Our goal is to be able to keep schools open as long as we can do so safely, and avoid having to abruptly close school during the school day. We will be reviewing conditions on a daily basis, looking at a variety of factors such as air quality, transportation, and the direction of the lava flow. In the event that school operations are impacted, families will be notified and updated through official school channels.
All Hawai‘i Island schools are updating their contingency plans to account for this type of emergency, should a school need to transition to a different mode of instruction for an extended period of time. Transition plans will be communicated to school communities as needed.
Mahalo to our staff and school communities for their support and dedication."
– Stacey Bello, Ka‘ū-Kea‘au-Pāhoa Complex Area Superintendent
– Esther Kanehailua, Hilo-Waiākea Complex Area Superintendent
– Janette Snelling, Honoka‘a-Kealakehe-Kohala-Konawaena Complex Area Superintendent
5 p.m. – Hawai‘i island schools to remain open
All HIDOE campuses on Hawai‘i Island are scheduled to remain open to students and staff tomorrow, Nov. 29, and going forward unless otherwise noted.
The Department will continue to follow the advice of Civil Defense officials and will be monitoring conditions on a daily basis. In the event that school operations are forecast to be impacted, families will be notified immediately. In the meantime, families should make sure their child's school has the most accessible contact information on file.
5:30 a.m. – Hawai‘i Island schools open to students and staff
All HIDOE campuses on Hawai‘i Island will be open to staff and students today, Nov. 28, as the Department continues to monitor the potential impacts of the Mauna Loa eruption.
Civil Defense and Hawai‘i County officials have advised that no school closures are needed at this time; mandatory evacuations have not been ordered and school operations can safely continue at this time.
The Department will continue to follow the advice of public safety officials and monitor conditions of schools in the Mauna Loa Inundation Zone. Families will be updated through official school channels if conditions change.
Resources
USGS Mauna Loa Eruption Page
https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/mauna-loa/mauna-loa-eruption-webpage
USGS Volcano Advisories
https://www.usgs.gov/programs/VHP/volcano-updates
Hawai‘i County Civil Defense
https://hawaii-county-volcano-hazards-hawaiicountygis.hub.arcgis.com/
Hawai‘i Interagency Vog Information Dashboard
vog.ivhhn.org/
