Teachers at most Hawaiʻi Island schools must report to work Tuesday
Posted: August 17, 2026
Following assessments of school campuses and surrounding community conditions, the Hawaiʻi State Department of Education will reopen most campuses across the state on Tuesday, Aug. 18. In consultation with the Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association, the HIDOE shared that their campus assessments included identifying damage from Tropical Storm and Hurricane Lala, access to water, sewer, and the ability to resume meal service to students.
All Hawaiʻi Island schools closed to students Tuesday, but staff should still report at most campuses
On Hawai‘i Island, following Gov. Josh Green and Hawaiʻi County Mayor Kimo Alameda’s announcement, schools will remain closed to students Tuesday, but employees will report unless their school is identified below.
The following Hawai‘i Island schools will be closed to students and staff Tuesday while health and safety issues are addressed:
- Keonepoko Elementary
- Mountain View Elementary
- Pāhoa Elementary
- Pāhoa High & Intermediate
- Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole Elementary
Nā‘ālehu Elementary School and Ka‘ū High & Pāhala Elementary School will remain closed to students and staff for the rest of this week due to road closures affecting campus access and severe storm-related damage in the area, HIDOE officials said.
Public charter school teachers should check with their administrators about their school’s plans for Tuesday and beyond.
Most Oʻahu schools will reopen Tuesday, with some exceptions
The majority of public schools on O‘ahu will reopen Tuesday. A small number of schools will be closed to all students and staff, while a small number of schools will be closed to students only.
The following O‘ahu schools will remain closed to all students and staff Tuesday while health and safety issues are addressed:
- Daniel K. Inouye Elementary
- Ka‘a‘awa Elementary
- Lā‘ie Elementary
- Pearl City High
The following O‘ahu schools will be closed to students only and school staff will report:
Honolulu/East O‘ahu
- Kalani High
- Kalihi Kai Elementary
- King Liholiho Elementary
- King William C. Lunalilo Elementary
- Linapuni Elementary
- Niu Valley Middle
Windward O‘ahu
- ʻĀhuimanu Elementary
- ʻAikahi Elementary
- Hauʻula Elementary
- Kalāheo High
- Mōkapu Elementary
Central O‘ahu
- ʻAiea Elementary
- Helemano Elementary
- Pearl Harbor Elementary
- Major Sheldon Wheeler Elementary
- Major Sheldon Wheeler Middle
- 1SG Samuel K. Solomon Elementary
West O‘ahu
- Iroquois Point Elementary
- Wai‘anae Elementary
- Wai‘anae High
- Wai‘anae Intermediate
All campuses and offices statewide on Maui, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, and Kauaʻi will reopen on Tuesday, Aug. 18. Read HIDOE’s latest campus update here.
Employees assigned to schools and offices that are reopening on Tuesday should report according to their normal work schedules.
Employees assigned to a school closed to students should follow their supervisor’s instructions regarding work status and reporting expectations. Employees who are unable to safely report to work because of storm-related conditions affecting their home or community should contact their supervisor.
Throughout Monday, school leaders, facilities personnel and designated staff assessed campuses, restored operations and prepared facilities for the safe return of students and employees. Power and other utility services have gradually been restored to affected campuses.
“We recognize that some employees and their families continue to experience significant impacts from the storm. Mahalo to everyone who supported campus assessments, recovery efforts and preparations for reopening, and to all employees for your flexibility and continued support of our students and school communities,” HIDOE said in an email to school employees Monday night.
Friday, Aug. 21, is Statehood Day, a state holiday. Schools and HIDOE offices will be closed statewide on Friday.
Know your rights if your campus faces an extended closure
For those teachers whose campuses will remain closed to students for a second day, you should familiarize yourself with the protections afforded to you under the HSTA contract related to emergency school closures.
Emergency school closures must comply with the Memorandum of Understanding for Extended Emergency School Closures (pages 111–113). This includes the following language: “Should the school closure be for two (2) days, at the direction of their principal, teachers may be required to participate in professional development or administration directed meetings. Teachers shall have the option to participate virtually.”
Note: Teachers electing to utilize the virtual participation option should notify their administration. If a school closure lasts longer than two school days, there are additional protections for teachers related to any plan to pivot to an alternative instructional mode.
The state closed all HIDOE campuses as well as all state offices on Monday, following Lala’s high winds and heavy rain over the weekend that left 200,000 households and businesses without electricity, flooded and damaged homes, businesses and roadways, knocked down trees and utility lines and took out power transmission facilities. State and county offices on Hawai’i Island will remain closed on Tuesday.