Schools in Maui County to Close Due to Storms

By David Kvasnicka

File image by Wendy Osher.

(Update: 8/6/2014)

The state Department of Education has issued an advisory indicating that all public schools on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi and in Maui County (Maui, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi) will be closed on Thursday, Aug. 7, based on the storms’ paths and in preparation of designated emergency shelter sites.

The schools in Maui County that are designated emergency shelters will remain closed on Friday, Aug. 8.

Other school closures will be determined by the DOE as the situation develops.

Designated school shelters will open to the public on Thursday, Aug. 7 at 1 p.m.

School shelters include: Baldwin High (Wailuku); Lokelani Intermediate (Kīhei); Kekaulike High (Upcountry); Hāna High & Elementary; Molokaʻi High; and Kilohana Elementary (Molokaʻi).

An additional shelter at Lahaina Civic Center is also expected to open on Thursday afternoon.

(Posted 8/5/2014)

All public schools in Maui County will be closed Thursday, Aug. 7 in anticipation of Tropical Storms Iselle and Julio.

Alvin Shima, the Department of Education’s head for the Maui area, said in an email communication to staff obtained by Maui Now that schools may also be closed on Friday and Monday, pending advisement from Superintendant Kathryn Matayoshi.

The Department of Education in Honolulu said an official statement regarding the school closures would be released today (UPDATE: The DOE confirmed the Thursday school closures for Maui and Hawai’i Counties).

Schools that will be used as shelters by request of the Red Cross include:

• Baldwin High School’s gym
• Lokelani’s Intermediate’s cafeteria
• King Kekaulike High School’s gym

Shima said that more may be used as shelters beyond Thursday, depending on the severity of the storm.

Other shelters include:

• Lahaina Civic Center
• Hana High & Elementary
• Molokai High
• Kilohana High
• Lanai High

The county administration says that the schools designated as shelters will be closed on Friday, Aug. 8.

Officials also say that the shelters are scheduled to open Aug. 7 at 1 p.m. and that Maui Bus Paratransit Service will be available for same day reservations from home to shelter by calling MEO at 877-7651.