Lahaina schools will close Aug. 8 to honor one-year anniversary of deadly Lahaina fire

LAHAINA, Hawaii (KHON2) — The Hawaii Board of Education approved the DOE’s recommendation to grant a waiver that would allow for the closures of the Lahaina public schools on Thursday, Aug. 8 to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the deadly Lahaina wildfires that claimed 102 lives.

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“We recognize the importance of schools providing a sense of normalcy and continuity for students, but also acknowledge the profound emotional, psychological, physical and financial impacts that the wildfires have had on survivors and the community,” Superintendent Keith Hayashi said. “The destruction disrupted the lives of many of our students and staff, and we recognize the need for time to grieve and heal.”

The four Lahaina public schools – King Kamehameha III Elementary, Princess Nāhienaena Elementary, Lahaina Intermediate and Lahainaluna High – will be closed to students and staff on Aug. 8 to allow employees and students to participate in any commemorative events and healing activities. Schools will reopen on Friday, Aug. 9.

“This decision was not made lightly,” Hayashi said. “We recognize students lost many instructional days last year during wildfires, and closing schools impacts working families that count on students being in school.”

Last month, Maui County Council passed a resolution urging the DOE to push back the school year so the community could participate in events happening that week.

The first day of school for King Kamehameha III Elementary, Princess Nahienaena and Lahaina Intermediate students is Aug. 7. Lahainaluna High School freshman orientation is Aug. 6.

“For me, personally, I would like no school Aug. 7 and 9,” said Lahainaluna mother Courtney Lazo. “That way kids can go back to school on one day and have a fresh start after the community events.” She said she understands it could be difficult for some working parents.

“I think it would have been difficult to be in school that day and concentrate on English, math, History when a year ago our town caught on fire and all the schools are perched up there on the hill looking down at our town and the ash,” she added. She said she was happy with the board’s decision.

The DOE said students missing school days on other days of the week of the anniversary will be allowed to make up any missed assignments.

“It is important to have this day so that parents, teachers, staff and families can attend community events,” said Maui Board of Education member Kahele Dukelow, who board members selected as acting chair for today’s meeting. “I think it’s the right thing to do to provide that particular day off for everybody to process as they need to.”

With the board’s approval of Superintendent Hayashi’s waiver request, the department will grant salaried employees a paid administrative leave day on Aug. 8.

Staff can use established procedures to request leave to prioritize their well-being and that of their families during this sensitive time.

The DOE has also authorized an internal Maui wildfires leave share program where all salaried HI-DOE employees can donate leave time to their Maui co-workers who lost or suffered severe damage to their primary place of residence due to the wildfires.

The optional leave donation will provide affected employees with additional leave time to address personal business needed to recover from this loss. Leave donation forms, applications and guidelines have been distributed to all department staff. Applications are due by Sept. 13.