Kīlauea, Hanalei elementary schools set to reopen following Hurricane Lowell

Kīlauea Elementary and Hanalei Elementary, the two Kauaʻi public schools that will remain closed to students Monday, Sept. 14, following Hurricane Lowell, are set to reopen this week as water service has been restored and boil-water advisories for both communities have been lifted.

Kīlauea Elementary will reopen to students and employees Tuesday, Sept. 15. Hanalei Elementary will reopen to employees Tuesday to prepare the campus, with students returning Wednesday, Sept. 16.

Kīlauea and Hanalei are now the only Kauaʻi public school campuses awaiting power restoration, after electricity was restored to Kapaʻa High on Friday night. Both schools have contingency plans in place to operate without electricity while power restoration efforts continue.

Student transportation on Kauaʻi also remains impacted as recovery work continues. 

Special education curb-to-curb transportation will continue to be provided. However, some regular education bus routes will be unable to operate or will operate with modified service because road conditions and detours cannot safely accommodate school buses. Schools have been communicating directly with affected families about the status of bus transportation.

Updated school bus service information is available on the Department’s website: https://hawaiipublicschools.org/2026-kauai-school-bus-route-information/ 

The Department will continue monitoring conditions and working with schools and partners as recovery efforts continue.