More than 850 students at two Ka‘u schools returned to in-person learning this week, marking a major step toward normalcy nearly two weeks after Hurricane Lala battered the district.

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More than 850 students at two Ka‘u schools returned to in-person learning this week, marking a major step toward normalcy nearly two weeks after Hurricane Lala battered the district.

Kau High &Pahala Elementary School welcomed about 500 students back to campus Monday, while roughly 100 Na‘alehu Elementary prekindergarten and first-grade students returned Wednesday at a temporary school site at the Ka‘u District Gym.

The state Department of Education said the schools were the two public campuses in Hawaii most heavily impacted by the storm, sustaining an estimated $2.3 million in combined damage. Restoration work continues as students gradually return to classrooms.

“It’s a good release to be able to come back to school after everything that happened with Hurricane Lala,” 11th-grader Jordan Virgo said. “And seeing everybody and knowing that everybody’s OK going through after what we did. It’s just really great.”

For fellow junior Kamahao Alcoran, returning to school was also an opportunity to rebuild school spirit, strengthen the sense of community and make sure students feel included as the school year continues.

Principal Tiffany Pratt said the school prepared for students to return with activities and counseling support, recognizing that students would be coming back with different experiences from the storm.

But students were also eager to get back to their academic goals, she said.

“They’re ready to learn. They still have their goals,” Pratt said. “I have a lot of our seniors that have their college applications coming due. They need to meet their timelines.”

Pratt also pointed to the broader community response to the storm, saying support came from residents across generations.

“I know that all school communities feel this way, but I agree with the common theme that you hear about Ka‘u Strong,” she said. “We have such a strong, unified community, and you saw that throughout every age group, from our littles all the way to our kupuna, who came out to support in any way possible.”

At Na‘alehu Elementary, the return to school is taking place differently.

The school’s approximately 365 students are attending classes on a staggered schedule while their regular campus undergoes repairs. Each grade will attend in person two days a week, while prekindergarten students attend Wednesdays.

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The first groups of students returned Wednesday to classrooms set up inside the Ka‘u District Gym, where Na‘alehu staff spent several days transforming the space into temporary learning areas.

Principal Jason Britt said the anticipation among students and staff was palpable.

“I’m equally as excited as the kids are. We have kids jumping up and down,” Britt said. “I know my staff was ready to come back, work with the kids. I was ready to see the kids again, because this is why we do it.”

Britt said the temporary campus is intended to give students a safe and welcoming place to reconnect with their school community while repairs continue.

“We want to make sure our keiki and our community have somewhere to go that’s safe, and that they feel welcomed and loved,” Britt said. “So we’re really excited just to be that spot again, and take them all in and embrace them.”

Na‘alehu Elementary’s regular campus sustained flooding and water intrusion during Hurricane Lala, with debris carried onto school grounds.

Crews have removed debris from beneath the school’s raised buildings and completed most of the mud cleanup. Restoration work includes replacing damaged ceilings and flooring and continuing cleanup and repairs throughout the campus.

The restoration is expected to continue into October.

Ka‘u High &Pahala Elementary students have resumed regular school meals five days a week. Na‘alehu students receive meals on the days they attend school and take home an additional three days of breakfasts and lunches each week, giving them access to five days of school meals while the staggered schedule remains in place.

Na‘alehu’s staff said the return to school is another sign of the community beginning to move forward.

“All we can really say is mahalo for looking after the kids, looking after our school, looking after the community,” Britt said.

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