Recovery efforts continue at Nāʻālehu Elementary and Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary

The Hawaiʻi State Department of Education continues recovery and planning efforts for Nāʻālehu Elementary School and Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary School following significant impacts from Hurricane Lala.

Nā‘ālehu Elementary and Ka‘ū High & Pāhala Elementary remain temporarily closed to students and staff.

Due to uncertainty with potential impacts from the pending storm, restoration of utilities, and safe access to the campuses, the Department will finalize and share plans for resuming educational programming early next week.

The Department, complex area and school leaders are developing plans to support continued learning while campus and community recovery efforts remain underway. Families and employees at both schools will receive additional information directly as plans are finalized.

On Wednesday HIDOE facilities and information technology personnel, state Department of Accounting and General Services personnel, and contractors visited both campuses to conduct additional assessments and identify needs related to restoring school operations.

Nāʻālehu Elementary

• The campus sustained minor structural damage, while multiple classrooms were damaged by flooding and storm debris remains throughout the campus.
• The campus remains without electricity and water.
• HIDOE continues assessing campus conditions and developing both immediate and longer-term plans for safely resuming learning.

Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary

• The school’s weight room and one elementary classroom sustained flood damage.
• The campus remains without electricity, and safe access along Highway 11 remains a concern.

Friday, Aug. 21, is Statehood Day, a state holiday. Public schools and offices will be closed statewide.

The Department recognizes that students, families and employees in these communities continue to experience significant impacts from the storm. We appreciate their patience as school teams and recovery partners work to determine the safest and most effective path forward for students.