UPDATES: Big Island Business, Parks, Courts, Libraries, Post Offices, Schools Begin to Reopen

August 25, 2018, 9:10 AM HST
* Updated August 27, 9:23 AM

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Reopening updates will be added throughout the day.

Monday, Aug. 27, 2018

Samuel M. Spencer Beach Park in Kohala is closed today, Aug. 27, until noon for debris clean-up.

Sunday, Aug. 26, 2018

Public Charter Schools across the state will reopen tomorrow after being closed for two to three days due to the threat posed to the state by Hurricane Lane. As schools open tomorrow, staff will be assessing the damage caused to their campuses by the storm.

All schools on Hawaiʻi Island and Maui County were closed last week Wednesday as Hurricane Lane approached the state and on Thursday and Friday public schools statewide were shut down due to the impending storm.

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Thirty-six charter schools statewide serve more than 11,000 public school students. For updates on school closures please visit the State Public Charter School Commission website or individual school websites.

Hawaii State Department of Education (HIDOE) public schools and offices statewide will resume normal operations tomorrow, Aug. 27, with the exception of four schools in Lahaina that will be closed for students. The Department continues to work with county, state and federal emergency management agencies to assess campuses and offices for impacts from the storm. After-school programming and activities including interscholastic athletics will also resume tomorrow.

“Department staff and their families have shown a tremendous amount of resiliency as they work diligently through the weekend to prepare our schools and offices to open tomorrow,” said Superintendent Dr. Christina M. Kishimoto. “Mahalo to our school communities for their patience and support. I urge them to remain vigilant and prepared through the rest of hurricane season.”

The following Maui campuses will be closed for students on Monday, Aug. 27:

Lahainaluna High
Lahaina Intermediate
King Kamehameha III Elementary
Princess Nahienaena Elementary

Teachers and staff will report to the campuses, and the schools will reopen for students on Tuesday, Aug. 28.

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“We have provided an additional day for teachers and staff at those schools to prepare to welcome back students, due to West Maui brush fires. I want to thank the fire department and all emergency responders for their partnership with us to protect our school assets during this challenging situation,” added Kishimoto.

In response to the size and proximity of Hurricane Lane, HIDOE school and office closures were announced for Hawaii and Maui counties on Wednesday, Aug. 22, and statewide Thursday and Friday, Aug. 23 and 24.

Kamehameha School (KS) campuses, preschools, community education programs and offices to open on Monday, Aug. 27 with the exception of KS Hilo preschool

Kamehameha Schools values the safety of its students, families and employees. Based on the current track of Tropical Storm Lane, and after assessing the conditions of each KS site, we will reopen ALL campuses, preschools, community program sites and offices with the exception Hilo preschool on Monday, Aug. 27, 2018.

Hilo preschool will be closed on Monday due to flooding; staff and families will receive a separate update on the status of reopening this site via school messenger. All other KS preschool locations will resume on Monday.

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At noon on Sunday, Aug. 26, 2018, most lands under the jurisdiction of the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) reopened to public use following the threat of Hurricane/Tropical Storm Lane.

Early last week, in the interest of public safety, DOFAW and the DLNR Division of State Parks closed all lands under their jurisdictions. DOFAW Administrator David Smith said, “Assessments of conditions and any repairs needed will be ongoing over the next several days and that while areas may be opened, people are advised to use caution due to storm impacts and hazards that may be present, including but not limited to downed trees, erosion, flooding, strong currents, and hazardous road and trail conditions.” DOFAW and State Parks staff conducted initial damage and hazard assessments on Saturday. It may take a few days for all closed signs to be removed.

On Hawai‘i island all DOFAW properties except Keanakolu cabins, Ainapo cabin, Waimanu trail and campsites are reopening.

On Kaua‘i all DOFAW lands will reopen Monday, Aug. 27, 2018. Also on Kaua‘i, Ha‘ena State Park and Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park remained closed because of flood damage in April.

On Maui, Iao Valley State Monument will remain closed until tomorrow due to the high flows of the Wailuku River.

While Lane had little impact on O‘ahu, a small landslide on the Moleka Trail on the upper east edge of the Makiki Valley shows one of the obstacles or dangers forest users may continue to encounter.

Moleka Trail landslide. PC: DLNR

DLNR Chair Suzanne Case remarked, “While it appears that forest lands and state parks across the state escaped serious damage from the storm, I want to echo what David Smith said. Closures for certain areas or features may continue over the next few days, until staff can fully complete assessments and effect any repairs or mitigation that may be needed. We appreciate everyone’s continued kokua in staying away from closed areas for their own safety as well as the well-being of work crews who may be doing repair and maintenance work.”

Hikers can help report any damage or hazards they may spot by using the trail report form found at the bottom of each trail description on the Na Ala Hele website listed below.
Damage and hazards on any lands under DLNR jurisdiction can also be reported via the department’s Facebook page. Specific trail, parks, camping areas and forest land closures are listed on the following official State websites:

All University of Hawaiʻi campuses and offices will resume normal operations on Monday, Aug. 27, 2018, when all students and employees should return to campus.

U.S. Postal Service: operation adjustments for Monday, Aug. 27:

All post offices statewide except for the Pepe‘ekeo Post Office will be open and providing mail delivery on Monday; mail will be picked up from blue USPS mail boxes

The Pepe‘ekeo Post Office will be closed on Monday due to water damage

All post offices except for Pepe‘ekeo will be opening their retail lobbies one hour earlier than usual on Monday, to accommodate expected increased demand

Postal Service management will make additional decisions regarding adjustments to postal operations as needed.

Hawai‘i public libraries intend to resume normal service starting Monday, August 27, 2018. Staff will be assessing the condition of library facilities and if necessary, public service hours for libraries may be temporarily affected to ensure the safety of our employees. Updates on public service hours will continue to be posted on the state library website until all libraries resume normal public service hours.

Fines for books and materials due during the closure period will be waived.

All State Courts Will Be Open Monday, Aug 27, 2018

Hearings or trials postponed due to the closure of the courts will be rescheduled to the next available date with due consideration for any statutory mandates.

The deadline for filing documents which were originally due Aug. 23 to 25 for the Second and Third Circuits and Aug. 24 to 25 for the First and Fifth Circuits has been extended until Monday. All such documents shall be deemed to have been timely filed if they are filed by the close of business Monday.

For more information, call:

Hilo
Circuit Court – 808-961-7400
District Court – 808-961-7470
Family Court – 808-961-7500

Kona
Circuit Court – 808-322-8750
District Court – 808-322-8700
Family Court – 808-443-2112

South Kohala
District Court or Family Court – 808-443-2030

Post offices are NOT open Sunday for retail services, but that there will be mail delivery.

Park Reopens after Hurricane Lane: Pu‘uhonua o Hōnaunau and Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Parks has reopened as of 9:15 a.m. today, Aug. 25, 2018.

Hawai‘i Electric Light’s Customer Service and Engineering offices will reopen to walk-in customers on Monday, Aug. 27.

First Hawaiian Bank Saturday Banking branches on the Big Island will be open for business and returning to regular operating hours on Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Customers may locate the nearest Saturday Banking branch via FHB.com, using the FHB Mobile app or may call the FHB Customer Service Center at 1-888-844-4444.