More than 850 Kaʻū students return to in-person classes 2 weeks after Hurricane Lala

More than 850 students from the two Hawai‘i public schools in Kaʻū most impacted by Hurricane Lala are returning to in-person learning this week, marking a significant step forward for communities that spent the past 2 weeks navigating storm damage, utility disruptions and other impacts from the storm.

Nāʻālehu Elementary and Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary sustained an estimated total of $2.3 million in damages, with recovery and restoration work continuing at both.

About 100 Nāʻālehu Elementary prekindergarten and first-grade students Wednesday became the first groups to resume in-person learning at the school’s temporary location at the Kaʻū District Gym in Pāhala, adjacent to Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary.

Nāʻālehu staff have worked since the end of last week to transform the gym into temporary learning spaces, creating areas for classes and preparing to welcome students while their regular campus undergoes repairs.

“I’m equally as excited as the kids are. We have kids jumping up and down,” said Nā‘ālehu Elementary Principal Jason Britt in a state release. “I know my staff was ready to come back, work with the kids. I was ready to see the kids again because this is why we do it.”

The school’s about 365 students will attend in person on a staggered schedule by grade level, with each grade attending 2 days per week except prekindergarten, which attends Wednesdays.

Britt said the schedule is intended to give students regular opportunities to reconnect with their teachers and peers while spending time learning in-person.

“We’re going to have that rotation just so we can see them on a regular, get some interaction with their teachers, with their peers, get some academic time in,” he said.

Restoration of the Nāʻālehu campus is continuing after Hurricane Lala caused flooding and water intrusion and carried debris onto school grounds. Work underway includes replacing damaged ceilings and flooring and continuing cleanup and repairs.

Debris beneath the school’s raised buildings was removed and the majority of mud cleanup is completed. Restoration work is expected to continue into October.

The state Education Department also is adapting meal service around the schools’ return.

There were 3,800 free shelf-stable meals distributed Aug. 26-27 to support children and families in Kaʻū communities.

Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary students resumed regular school meals 5 days a week. Nāʻālehu students receive meals on the days they attend in-person and take home 3 additional days of breakfasts and lunches each week, providing access to a total of 5 days of school meals while the staggered schedule remains in place.

Britt expressed appreciation for the people, organizations and businesses supporting Nāʻālehu students, families and the broader Kaʻū community during the recovery.

“All we can really say is mahalo for looking after the kids, looking after our school, looking after the community,” he said.

Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary welcomed roughly 500 students back to its campus Monday for the first time since the storm.

Students returned to classrooms and activities designed to help them reconnect with teachers and classmates while easing back into the school routine. Returning to school, for some, also provided a sense of connection after experiencing significant storm impacts in their communities.

“It’s a good release to be able to come back to school after everything that happened with Hurricane Lala,” said 11th-grader Jordan Virgo in the state release. “And seeing everybody and knowing that everybody’s OK going through after what we did. It’s just really great.”

Fellow 11th-grader Kamahaʻo Alcoran said he was looking forward not only to returning to school, but also rebuilding a sense of community among students.

“As we go through the school year, [I want] to replenish the school spirit and, of course, make sure that everybody is included in everything that we do,” Alcoran said.

Ka‘ū High & Pāhala Elementary Principal Tiffany Pratt said staff prepared for students’ return with activities and counseling support, recognizing students would be coming back with different experiences from the storm.

At the same time, she said students were eager to pick up where they left off.

“They’re ready to learn. They still have their goals,” said Pratt in the state release. “I have a lot of our seniors that have their college applications coming due. They need to meet their timelines.”