All Hawaiʻi public schools will be closed Monday, Aug. 17 due to Lala impacts

Update: 6:33 p.m., Aug. 16, 2026:
All Hawaiʻi public schools will be closed Monday due to Hurricane Lala impacts

Following assessments of school campuses and surrounding community conditions, the Hawaiʻi State Department of Education will close all public schools and HIDOE offices statewide on Monday, Aug. 17.

The additional closure will allow time to complete campus safety assessments, restore utilities where necessary and address storm-related impacts.

Students should not report to campus Monday. Only HIDOE staff who are supporting assessment of conditions and preparation for reopening will report to work sites Monday; supervisors will contact staff who need to report.

The Department will continue working with county and state partners and will provide updates regarding Tuesday’s operations as additional information becomes available.

Previously announced extended closures on Hawai‘i Island for Nā‘ālehu Elementary and Ka‘ū High & Pāhala Elementary School remain in effect.

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HIDOE continues assessing campuses statewide; closures announced for 2 Hawaiʻi Island schools

Hawaiʻi State Department of Education school leaders, facilities personnel, and state and county partners continue to assess storm-related impacts and take the necessary steps to safely reopen schools.

HIDOE announced the following school closures on Hawaiʻi Island due to ongoing impacts from Hurricane Lala:

• Nāʻālehu Elementary School will remain closed to students and staff Monday, Aug. 17, through Thursday, Aug. 20, due to storm-related impacts to the campus and classrooms, as well as road closures affecting safe access. Public schools statewide are already closed Friday, Aug. 21, in observance of Statehood Day.
• Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary School will be closed Monday, Aug. 17, while the Department continues to assess campus conditions and roadway accessibility.

The Department recognizes that many Hawaiʻi Island families and employees continue to experience impacts from the storm in their homes and communities. The safety of students and staff remains the Department’s highest priority.

Families at both schools will receive updates directly from their schools regarding instructional plans and reopening timelines as additional information becomes available.

The Department continues to assess conditions at schools statewide. Additional updates regarding Monday’s school operations, if needed, will be shared later today through official HIDOE communication channels.

HIDOE extends its gratitude to first responders, emergency management personnel, utility crews and school employees who are working to support affected communities and safely restore operations.