Hokulani Elementary Closed for Rest of School Year After Storm Damage

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Hokulani Elementary School in Honolulu suffered extensive damage from flash flooding on March 23, prompting a campus closure for the remainder of the school year and impacting 270 students and 12 classrooms. Floodwaters from a nearby stream surged across the campus, forcing teachers to evacuate students as classrooms were submerged in up to 2 feet of water. The school will remain closed while repairs are made, with students relocating to nearby campuses to continue in-person learning.

Why it matters

The Hokulani Elementary closure is part of a broader pattern of storm damage impacting Hawaii public schools statewide, with over 500 work orders submitted for repairs and an estimated $170 million in total damages. The incident highlights the vulnerability of school infrastructure to extreme weather events and the challenges districts face in quickly restoring learning environments for displaced students.

The details

Around 1:45 pm on March 23, floodwaters from the nearby Manoa Stream rapidly surged across the Hokulani Elementary campus, submerging vehicles in the back parking lot and entering classrooms, the cafeteria, and the main office as students were preparing for dismissal. Teachers had to evacuate students, some of whom were crying and frozen in fear, to higher, drier areas like the cafeteria stage. All 270 students were safely picked up by parents, though emergency responders were limited in their ability to access the flooded campus. The floodwaters receded just 30 minutes later, but 12 of the school's 18 classrooms were heavily damaged, with mud covering rooms and destroying books, rugs, supplies, and electronics.

• On March 23, flash flooding from Manoa Stream surged across the Hokulani Elementary campus around 1:45 pm.
• By 2:15 pm, the floodwaters had receded, but the damage was extensive.

What they’re saying

What’s next

Repairs are expected to continue through the summer, with plans to reopen the Hokulani Elementary campus at the start of the next school year. Cleanup crews have already begun initial restoration, with additional work planned to replace flooring, cabinetry, and furniture.