More Than 2,000 Students Missing From Lahaina Schools in Wake of Deadly Wildfire

Hawaii Gov. Josh Green speaks during a news conference about the destruction of historic Lahaina and the aftermath of wildfires in western Maui in Wailuku, Hawaii, on Aug. 10, 2023. Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

The fate of more than 2,000 students from Lahaina’s public schools is unknown following the West Maui wildfires that killed at least 115 people and left hundreds unaccounted for, a report by the Hawaii State Department of Education (HDOE) indicates.

The department “continues to navigate the significant impacts of the West Maui (Lahaina) wildfires which affected West Maui communities and schools in the Lahainaluna complex,” HDOE Superintendent Keith Hayashi said in a letter to state Board of Education Chairman Warren Haruki.

The Aug. 8 Lahaina wildfire caused significant damage to the Lahainaluna complex, including King Kamehameha III Elementary School, Princess Nahienaena Elementary School, Lahaina Intermediate School, and Lahainaluna High School.

In the HDOE report detailing the agency’s response, King Kamehameha III Elementary School, which enrolled 624 students, remains closed because of significant structural damage.

(L-R) President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green, and his wife, Jaime Green, walk along Front Street to inspect wildfire damage in Lahaina, Hawaii, on Aug. 21, 2023. Mandel NGAN/AFP via Getty Images

Princess Nahienaena Elementary School, which enrolled 707 students; Lahaina Intermediate School, which enrolled 658 students; and Lahainaluna High School, which enrolled 1,012 students, all sustained wind, debris, ash, and soot damage, and remain closed for water safety and environmental quality reasons.

According to the report, all four schools in the complex are awaiting official clearance to reopen.

As of Aug. 9, the Lahainaluna complex had a total enrollment of 3,001 students and 327 staff, according to the report. Since the fire, 538 students have reenrolled in other public schools, and 438 have enrolled in the state’s distance-learning program.

‘Children Passed’

The remaining students—2,025—have yet to reenroll in another public school or opt for distance learning, according to the report.

Whether these students have moved out of state or enrolled in private schools isn’t known.

HDOE officials didn’t respond to an email from The Epoch Times seeking comment on this story.

In the meantime, the DOE report said it’s working to meet short-term needs, such as mental health support information for students and staff, and the installation of air quality monitors.

Other efforts include a newly established Maui support hotline and in-person, telehealth, and virtual options for medical needs.

On Aug. 25, Hawaii officials released the names of 388 residents still missing in the Lahaina fire.

At least 850 people—including many children—remain unaccounted for in the Lahaina fire; the number has been lowered from an earlier estimate of more than 1,000.

During an interview with CBS News’ “Face The Nation” on Aug. 20, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green, a Democrat, described the devastating impact on West Maui schools.

“King Kamehameha Elementary School in Lahaina is burned to the ground. I mean, it’s totally gone. It used to host 650 children; some of those children passed.”