Hawaii Reopened Public Schools Following Hurricane Nolo
Schools on Hawaii Island and most of Maui County resumed operations while four Lahaina campuses remain closed.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Secondary Education
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The Hawaii State Department of Education reopened public schools across Hawaii Island and most of Maui County following Hurricane Nolo. Four schools in Lahaina remain closed due to ongoing power outages and active brush fires.
Why it matters
Schools were initially shuttered to ensure student safety after the storm caused flooding and high winds. Continued closures in Lahaina reflect ongoing utility disruptions and the persistent threat posed by the active Olowalu brush fire.
Four Lahaina schools, including King Kamehameha III Elementary and Lahainaluna High, remain shuttered. Campus assessments confirmed that other state facilities are ready for operation following the storm.
The players
Hawaii State Department of Education
This is the state agency responsible for overseeing and managing all public schools across the Hawaiian Islands.
The details
Campus assessments indicated that most Department of Education schools are ready to reopen and that local roads are now accessible. Officials continue to monitor conditions in West Maui while coordinating with emergency management and utility providers to restore services.
Timeline
September 28, 2026: Public schools reopened on Hawaii Island and most of Maui County.
Culture Shift
This disruption mirrors the challenges seen during the 2023 Maui wildfires, highlighting the continued vulnerability of Lahaina's infrastructure to environmental threats. The situation underscores a shift toward more frequent, climate-driven school closures that challenge local educational continuity.
Families in Lahaina should prepare for continued adjustments to daily routines as local schools remain closed indefinitely. Residents elsewhere on Hawaii Island and Maui County can expect normal operations to resume, though they should remain alert for further updates from school officials.
The takeaway
Maintaining educational stability during extreme weather remains a significant challenge for the state. Parents are encouraged to monitor official Department of Education announcements regarding the safe restoration of services in the impacted Lahaina area.
Further reading
For more information on current school operational status, visit Secondary Education.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Maui Now | Hawaii News | Local Maui News and Information | Hawaii News.
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