Over 2,000 students absent from Lahaina schools after deadly wildfire.

The Fate of Lahaina’s Students Hangs in the Balance

The West Maui wildfires have left more than 2,000 students from ⁢Lahaina’s public schools in a state ⁢of uncertainty. According to a ‍report by the Hawaii State Department of Education (HDOE), at least 115 people have lost their lives, and hundreds are still missing.

HDOE Superintendent Keith Hayashi expressed the department’s ongoing struggle to cope with the aftermath of the ⁤wildfires, which have severely impacted the West Maui communities and schools in the Lahainaluna complex. In‌ a letter to​ state Board of Education Chairman‌ Warren ⁤Haruki, Hayashi emphasized the challenges faced by the department.

The devastating Aug.‍ 8⁣ Lahaina wildfire caused extensive damage to the Lahainaluna complex, including King Kamehameha III Elementary School, Princess Nahienaena Elementary School, Lahaina Intermediate School, and‌ Lahainaluna High School.

The HDOE report reveals that King Kamehameha III⁢ Elementary School, with its 624 students, remains closed ⁢due to ⁤significant structural damage.

Princess ​Nahienaena Elementary School, Lahaina Intermediate School, and Lahainaluna​ High School have all suffered damage from wind, debris, ash, and soot. These schools, with a combined enrollment ⁤of⁤ over​ 2,000 students, remain closed for the ​sake of water safety and environmental quality.

The report states that all four⁢ schools​ are awaiting ‌official clearance to reopen.

According to the report, as of Aug. 9, the Lahainaluna complex had a ⁣total enrollment of 3,001 students and 327 staff members. Since the fire, 538 students have‌ found enrollment in other public schools, while 438 have opted for the state’s distance-learning program.

‘Children Passed’

However, there are still 2,025 students who have not⁢ reenrolled in another public school or chosen distance ⁤learning, as stated in⁤ the⁣ report. It remains​ unclear whether these students have ⁤relocated out of state or enrolled in private schools.

The ‌Epoch Times⁢ reached out to HDOE officials ‍for comment but did not receive a response.

In the ⁢meantime, ​the DOE report highlights the department’s efforts to address immediate needs, such as providing mental health support for students and staff and installing air quality monitors.

Additional ‍initiatives⁤ include the establishment of a Maui support ​hotline and the⁣ availability of in-person, telehealth, and virtual ⁤options for medical assistance.

On Aug. 25, ‌Hawaii officials released the names of ⁢388 residents who are still missing in the Lahaina ​fire.

Although the number of unaccounted individuals, ​including many children, has been revised ⁣down from over 1,000 to at least 850, the impact on West Maui⁤ schools, as described by Hawaii Governor Josh Green, remains devastating.

“King Kamehameha Elementary School in Lahaina is burned to the ground. I mean,⁤ it’s just gone,”‌ Green stated during an​ interview with CBS News’ “Face⁣ The Nation” on Aug. 20.