Governor Josh Green, M.D.

Lāhainā schools witnessed a heartwarming return to normalcy in the middle of October, as school staff and stu­dents returned to their home campuses after the Maui wildfires. While there were many agencies, including county and fed­eral partners who helped to make the possibility of returning to school safely, the Department of Education (HIDOE) and the Department of Health (DOH) took the lead to ensure it could happen safely.

On October 16, Lāhaināluna High School faculty and staff welcomed back approximately 700 students. The school had homecoming activities planned throughout the week, increasing school spirit for the Lunas’ first home football game against Baldwin High. Principal Richard Carosso noted the positive energy, and emphasized the significance of returning home, “Today’s the first day of Homecoming Week, and it couldn’t be more fitting that we’ve come home.”

The following day, October 17, Lāhainā Intermediate welcomed 400 students back to its campus. Students expressed their excitement to be on campus with their teachers and peers and conveyed they felt hopeful about
the rest of the school year.

“My heart is overflowing seeing the faces of these kids coming in, them hugging each other, and the staff greeting them,” said Lāhainā Intermediate School Principal Stacy Bookland. “It has just been an overjoy for me. This is a long time coming so we’re very happy to see everyone today.”

On October 18, both of Lāhainā’s elementary schools re­opened. King Kamehameha III Elementary, which lost its campus to the fires on Front Street, is temporarily sharing the Princess Nāhi‘ena‘ena Elementary campus. A combination of air-conditioned tent structures and traditional classrooms have been utilized to accommodate the additional students. Portable toilets with individual air conditioning units and chilled water stations were also added to the temporary shared site. This setup allows for a secure and comfortable learning environment.

“We have really been working toward this day for a whole quarter and it’s finally arrived,” said Hāna-Lāhaināluna-Lāna‘i-Moloka‘i Complex Area Superintendent Rebecca Winkie. “Now we’re going to get back to a sense of normalcy. The kids can learn and have their support on campus and just the socialization and being with their peers, I think, is going to make all the difference.”

About a dozen staff and community members, some dressed as Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck, lined the entr­­ance of the campus with signs and cheered on parents during drop-offs. Both principals also welcomed students by directing traffic and assisting them with check-in.

Throughout the process, the safety and well-being of students and staff have been of the utmost concern. The HIDOE and DOH implemented extensive measures to ensure safety, including comprehensive environmental testing of soil and drinking water, which have come back safe; professional cleaning of interior and exterior spaces; access to a network of air quality monitors installed by the DOH and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; and bi-weekly wipe tests in classrooms have been carried out to monitor particles settling on surfaces. A progress report of reopening efforts, including test results, is posted at bit.ly/LahainaSchoolsProgressReport.

Furthermore, the HIDOE developed health and safety guidance with the DOH that outlines actions the schools will take whenever there are changes in the air quality. The health and safety guidance can be viewed at bit.ly/ReopeningSafetyGuidance.