Some Lahaina parents push to reopen school local schools

For many students in Lahaina, school never started this year. The first day back coincided with the fire that burned down their town. Weeks after, parents demand that schools return.

MARY LOUISE KELLY, HOST:

Many kids on Maui missed out on an important ritual this year – going back to school. That’s another consequence of the wildfire that destroyed or damaged homes and buildings, including a cluster of schools. More than 1,500 students – that is more than half the kids in the Lahaina district – they have already enrolled elsewhere. But some parents are fighting to keep their kids together, as NPR’s Pien Huang reports.

PIEN HUANG, BYLINE: It’s a really hot morning a few weeks after the fire in Lahaina. About 500 parents, teachers and students are gathered under an outdoor tent, spilling onto the lawn. Keith Hayashi, superintendent for Hawaii Public Schools, faces a tough crowd.

KEITH HAYASHI: The purpose of today’s community meeting is to gather input from you, to hear your concerns.

HUANG: He’s here at a local church to share plans for the school year. He hears a lot of concerns and also anger from parents like Anela Gordon. Her son is a senior at Lahainaluna High School. He’s also a football player.

ANELA GORDON: My senior athlete got robbed his freshman year because of COVID. He got robbed half his sophomore year because of COVID protocols. Now getting robbed his senior year – how fair is that?

HUANG: The high school, the intermediate school and Princess Nahiʻenaʻena Elementary School are clustered at the top of a hill. They’re looking over what used to be Lahaina town. It’s now 2,000 acres of ash and debris. The three schools are standing, but they remain closed. The Department of Education says it will take at least two months to test the safety of the air, soil and water.

(SOUNDBITE OF WIND CHIMES TINKLING)

HUANG: The wind blows soot over the surrounding neighborhood. That’s where we meet Samantha Kawaakoa on her…