Some state school board members and public testifiers alike expressed continued frustration Thursday with what they see as slow and confusing public communication from the state Department of Education on the status of the 3,001 public school students displaced by the Lahaina wildfire. Read more
State schools Deputy Superintendent Heidi Armstrong said she could not give an estimate for how many of the public schools’ 3,001 Lahainaluna-complex students died in the Aug. 8 wildfire disaster in West Maui. Read more
Bus service will begin Thursday for elementary and intermediate public-school students from Lahaina who want to temporarily attend designated schools in Central and South Maui, the state Department of Education announced today. Read more
Maui pediatrician Dr. Irene Papaconstadopoulos says she’s seen relatively few complaints of respiratory problems, burns or other physical issues among her young patients who survived the West Maui wildfires. It’s their mental and emotional health that worries her now. Read more
When Honolulu resident Elizabeth Hartline learned of the Maui wildfire disaster, she longed to give meaningful help to those who were suffering but knew her donations would go only so far. Read more
A tentative agreement that would raise the salaries of educational assistants and vice principals in Hawaii’s public schools was announced today by Gov. Josh Green. Read more
Lahainaluna High School, Lahaina Intermediate and Princess Nahienaena Elementary school have been closed since the Aug. 8 wildfires. Read more
Dozens of public school educators and parents from Maui poured out their anguish, anger and frustration Thursday over what they feel have been slow and confusing actions by state education officials in the wake of the wildfire disaster. Read more
The Maui Police Department on Wednesday released the identities of six more victims of the Aug. 8 Lahaina wildfire, however the total number of confirmed fatalities remains 115. Read more
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About two-thirds of the 3,001 children who once attended Lahaina’s four public schools still have not enrolled in other Hawaii public schools or the state’s distance learning program. Read more
The DOE said it is coordinating bus transportation for West Maui students to get to and from the temporary school sites, and hubs for pick up and drop off of general education students are being determined. Read more
In an effort to ease Hawaii’s severe shortage of public school bus drivers, Gov. Josh Green has signed an emergency proclamation that temporarily allows vehicles other than school buses to be used to transport students. Read more
Meanwhile, reopening dates have not yet determined for the three intact schools in Lahaina — Princess Nahi‘ena‘ena Elementary, Lahaina Intermediate and Lahainaluna High. Read more
The Maui wildfires have robbed Mindi Cherry of not one beloved home, but two. Read more
While officials have often said that low pay and the COVID-19 pandemic have caused a severe shortage of bus drivers for Hawaii public schools, a top official at the state Department of Education says the “No. 1 reason” drivers are leaving their jobs in droves actually is student misbehavior. Read more
The state Department of Education is claiming success in cutting down public-school teacher job vacancies from last year’s 1,000-plus to 260, but the teachers union believes the DOE’s hiring 80 educators from the Philippines and heavily crediting a new online hiring system for much of the progress are misplaced. Read more
The free public event “I Heart Kapi‘olani CC” is returning Aug. 17, offering activities, games, food vendors, campus tours and more to encourage people to learn about and try Kapiolani Community College. Read more
Dozens of volunteers converged Thursday on the kitchens at the University of Hawaii’s Maui College to prepare thousands of meals for people in shelters and first responders. Read more
In a span of just four hours Wednesday, the Maui Strong Fund at the Hawai‘i Community Foundation swelled to $1 million, buoyed by people and organizations rushing to help residents affected by the Maui wildfires. Read more
“Digital navigators” are offering free help with technology questions via telephone and in person at five Hawaii public libraries through a pilot program provided by the Hawaii State Public Library System. Read more
When parent complaints and questions began pouring into state Rep. Trish La Chica’s office about the state suspending bus routes at 14 Hawaii public schools two weeks before school started, she says she felt frustrated that she had few immediate answers or solutions to offer. Read more
