After weeks of extensive testing of the air, water and soil quality at Princess Nāhiʻenaʻena Elementary, Lāhainā Intermediate, Lāhaināluna High, the campuses are set to welcome staff back on Oct. 6 and start bringing students back after fall break.
“We have worked closely with the Department of Education to ensure the environment is safe before students and staff return,” said State Health Director Dr. Kenneth S. Fink. “The data collected from air, drinking water, and soil testing all indicate it is safe to return to the three Lāhainā campuses. We continue to work with the Department of Education on air quality monitoring and response to any potential health concerns."
The results of the soil testing, which was conducted by an independent firm to detect the presence of heavy metals and dioxins, have been reviewed in consultation with the Hawaiʻi State Department of Health (DOH). The soil at all three schools does not pose a public health risk and the campuses are safe for students and staff to return, according to the DOH.
External air quality sensors have also been installed at the three campuses, with results publicly reported at fire.airnow.gov, and water testing data for the three schools from Maui County’s Department of Water Supply indicated "non-detect" for "all volatile compounds."
The Office of Talent Management will be sending staff updated information via email this week on the transition from temporary reassignments back to their home campuses. (King Kamehameha III Elementary will operate as a school within a school at Princess Nāhi‘ena‘ena Elementary for the short-term.)
Reopening timeline for Lāhainā campuses
Lāhaināluna High is set to reopen its campus to students on Oct. 16, with Lāhainā Intermediate welcoming students back on Oct. 17. On Oct. 18, Princess Nāhi‘ena‘ena Elementary will welcome students and staff back plus staff and students displaced from King Kamehameha III.
The campus-sharing arrangement for our elementary schools is designed to be a short-term solution using high-quality tents that are equipped with power and air-conditioning to create a comfortable teaching and learning environment. The schools will share a campus until a planned temporary replacement school being developed near Kapalua Airport is open. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, with funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, is handling the construction of the project and estimates it could take anywhere from 95 days to six months to complete.
- Oct. 5 - Last day for Lāhaināluna students at Kūlanihāko‘i High School, and students at distance learning and special education hubs
- Oct. 6 - Staff work day at Lāhainā home campuses for all Lāhainā faculty and staff
- Oct. 9-13 - Fall break
- Oct. 15 - Lāhaināluna boarding students move into dorms
- Oct. 16 - Lāhaināluna students report to campus
- Oct. 17 - Lāhainā Intermediate students report to campus
- Oct. 18 - King Kamehameha III and Princess Nāhi‘ena‘ena students report to Princess Nāhi‘ena‘ena campus
"Our hope is that by providing the reopening dates with about three weeks of lead time, families can use the information to make decisions that are best for their situation," Superintendent Keith Hayashi said. "From now until we reopen to staff and students, we will be completing professional cleaning of all interior and exterior spaces and finalizing health and safety guidance for schools. As the Department finalizes the details, information will be shared with families regarding such areas as bus transportation and school schedules.”
A progress report on the reopening of the Lāhainā schools is updated as new information becomes available and can be viewed at bit.ly/