August 21, 2018

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Please be assured that the Hawaii State Department of Education (HIDOE) is monitoring Hurricane Lane as it approaches the islands, and is working closely with county and state emergency response teams to determine potential school closures.

 

As with any emergency-type situation, we are striving to balance the need for safety with our overall commitment to provide students and families with every sense of normalcy. Updates on school closures will be posted on HIDOE's website www.hawaiipublicschools.org and on social media -Twitter and Facebook, @HIDOE808, starting at 9 p.m. this evening.

 

Effective Wednesday, August 22, all after-school activities and programs including inter-scholastic athletic events are canceled for the rest of this week and will resume on Monday, August 27. All school-related inter-island travel this week will be canceled as well.

 

We urge families to have an emergency plan in place and to prepare ahead of the storm's anticipated impact. The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (HI-EMA) recommends individuals and families prepare an "emergency kit" with a minimum of 14 days' worth of food, water and other supplies. For other tips and for more information, please visit dod.hawaii.gov/hiema.

 

Your neighborhood school may be designated as an emergency shelter. Activation is initiated by counties in consultation with HI-EMA. You can connect with your county's emergency response resources at:

Honolulu (Oahu) County: www.honolulu.gov/dem
Hawaii Island County: www.hawaiicounty.gov/civil-defense

MauiCounty: www.mauicounty.gov/70/Emergency-Management-Agency

Kauai County: www.kauai.gov/K.EMA

 

Please work with your child's school to make sure that they have the most up-to-date contact information for your household. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact them directly.

 

Thank you for your support as we work together to ensure the safety of our students, staff and school communities.

 

Sincerely,
Dr. Christina M. Kishimoto Superintendent