Aloha, HIDOE Community

On Thursday I will be providing an update on the impacts of the West Maui wildfires before the Hawai‘i State Board of Education. The Department is eager to have our Lāhainā teams and students gather as school communities as soon as safely possible and we are fully committed to providing education in West Maui.

While reopening efforts and the exploration of alternate sites in West Maui are continuing, Lāhainā schools remain closed to staff, students and volunteers. We are awaiting results of environmental testing to be sure that the air, water, soil and soot are safe so that we may safely reopen campuses. We are also working on different options for King Kamehameha III Elementary, which was damaged beyond repair in the fires.

Given the uncertainty on reopening dates, we are providing an option for impacted West Maui students interested in in-person learning to temporarily relocate to designated schools in Central and South Maui. Bus transportation is being set up, and pick-up and drop-off hub sites for students will be announced soon. Interested families should obtain and complete a bus application at their new school as soon as possible. More information is available on our website.

For families who remain in Lāhainā and are not able to take advantage of this option, the Department is working on plans to offer community-based learning activities in West Maui, but families are advised that programming will not look like traditional education provided in schools.

The ultimate goal remains the safe reopening of our schools, recognizing the vital role schools play in providing essential services and support to our communities. Schools provide in-person services that foster a comprehensive educational experience — like socialization, counseling and extracurricular activities. The Department is committed to addressing the multifaceted needs of our West Maui school communities, from immediate concerns to long-term planning, with a focus on the continued well-being of all staff, students and families.

Sincerely,

Keith T. Hayashi
Superintendent