Lahaina Schools to Close for Fire Anniversary

This article was originally published in Honolulu Civil Beat.

Lahaina’s four public schools will close on Aug. 8 to honor the first anniversary of the Maui wildfires, the Board of Education decided on Thursday.

Students at King Kamehameha III Elementary, Princess Nahienaena Elementary, Lahaina Intermediate and Lahainaluna High School will begin classes on Aug. 7 as planned. Incoming freshmen at Lahainaluna High School will come to campus a day early, on Aug. 6, for orientation.

The four schools will reopen on Friday, Aug. 9.

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The board’s decision to close schools on Aug. 8 follows a Maui County Council resolution asking the Hawaii Department of Education to delay the start of the school year for all Maui schools by a week so classes on the island wouldn’t coincide with the anniversary of the fires. The council passed the resolution last month, although some community members said it could be logistically difficult to start classes a full week later than planned.

Superintendent Keith Hayashi said he recognized that not all families will be able to take off work on Aug. 8. But, he said, it’s important for staff and students to commemorate the anniversary of the fires with their loved ones, and the department is seeking resources and services to support families who can’t find child care on the anniversary of the fires.

“We also remain committed to ensuring students’ academic well-being and providing essential support and resources at our schools, such as additional behavioral health specialists on campus,” Hayashi said in his written request to the board.

Even if schools remained open on Aug. 8, Hayashi added, it could be difficult to staff campuses if many employees took personal leave.

In response to board members’ concerns about students’ academic progress, King Kamehameha III Elementary Principal Ian Haskins said his school has offered summer learning opportunities to help children catch up on missed instruction from last year. Schools will continue to address any learning loss in the upcoming academic year, he added.

“We will make sure students get what they need,” Haskins said.

Students at King Kamehameha III Elementary lost nearly a third of the academic year after their campus was burned beyond repair last August.

At least one private school has adjusted the start of its school year to recognize the one-year anniversary of the fires. Maui Preparatory Academy announced earlier this summer that classes will begin on Aug. 9 instead of Aug. 7.

Throughout last year, Lahaina teachers repeatedly asked the department for more scheduling flexibility and mental health resources in the aftermath of the wildfires. In response, DOE announced earlier this week that employees can donate leave days to teachers who lost their property last summer.

Teachers can donate or request additional leave until mid-September.

Civil Beat’s education reporting is supported by a grant from Chamberlin Family Philanthropy.

This story was originally published on Honolulu Civil Beat .