Back to school: Nāʻālehu Elementary campus to reopen next week
It's been nearly 2 months since the school was extensively flooded and damaged by Hurricane Lala; now, with repairs complete and having to temporarily relocate to Ka‘ū District Gym in Pāhala, teachers and administration 'cannot wait to be back at school.'
Category 1 Hurricane Lala nearly 2 months ago Aug. 15-16 battered the Big Island, especially Ka‘ū communities such as Pāhala, Punaluʻu, Waiʻōhinu and — perhaps one of the hardest-hit of all — Nāʻālehu, as the storm’s eye passed about 30 miles just south of the island.
Nāʻālehu Elementary School took much of the brunt from Lala’s fury, receiving extensive damage as the storm bore down on Ka‘ū. That forced the campus to close in Lala’s aftermath.
The elementary’s about 400 students now are finally headed back to their school Oct. 12 after spending weeks of learning at a temporary location at Ka‘ū District Gym in Pāhala while staff worked to complete necessary repairs at the Nāʻālehu Elementary campus.
School and facilities staff worked diligently preparing classrooms and the campus for students to return, with finishing touches being completed this week during fall break.
“Restoring the Nāʻālehu Elementary campus was a tremendous team effort involving our school and facilities teams along with [Hawaiʻi County] and state partners and construction crews who worked together to complete critical repairs,” said Kaʻū-Keaʻau-Pāhoa Complex Area Superintendent Stacey Bello. “At the same time, our teachers and staff kept students connected, supported and learning throughout the disruption.”
Lala delivered rainfall totals exceeding 20 inches to several southern Big Island communities, causing flash flooding and mudflows. Images from Nāʻālehu during and after the hurricane showed mud accumulation of several inches on streets in town along with felled trees laying on top, making the routes useless.
Some roads and major highways were extensively damaged, in some cases impassable for days or weeks. Homes were knocked off their foundations. Water services and electricity were out to the entire area, with some residents facing weeks without services. Graves at two cemeteries in the area were washed out. Large waves pummeled southern coasts. People died.
Nāʻālehu Elementary experienced extensive flooding and damage to roofs, flooring and campus grounds.
Leaks and water intrusion required roofing and ceiling repairs, flooring replacement and mold remediation to ensure safe learning environments. Furniture and equipment damaged by water and mud were also replaced.
A temporary learning site opened Sept. 2 at Kaʻū District Gym, allowing students to resume in-person instruction on a staggered schedule by grade level.
Access to meals and learning materials also was maintained throughout the disruption.
Hawaiʻi Department of Education on Aug. 26-27 distributed 3,800 free shelf-stable meals at sites in Pāhala, Nāʻālehu and Ocean View.
Elementary students received instructional packets with meal boxes before in-person instruction resumed, and Nā‘ālehu students continued receiving shelf-stable meals to take home on days they were not scheduled at the temporary campus.
Nāʻālehu Elementary Principal Jason Britt thanked parents, school staff and other members of the community for showing up in Lala’s aftermath, including the teachers and administrators who created a welcoming environment, stability, positivity and student support at the temporary site during this transitional period.
“And I cannot thank our facilities and janitorial staff enough for their dedication and hard work to ready our campus,” Britt said. “We cannot wait to be back at school.”
