Free bus services for Lahaina elementary and intermediate students attending designated schools in Kihei will begin Thursday, according to the Department of Education.

Students attending Wailuku Elementary will depart at 6:30 a.m. from Kapalua Airport and at 6:45 a.m. from Whalers Village.

Those heading to Kamalii Elementary and Lokelani Intermediate will depart Kapalua Airport at 6:45 a.m. and Whalers Village at 7 a.m.

Families who are still interested in enrolling can go to their temporary school or a bus stop to complete enrollment and bus applications.

Lahainaluna High School will begin meeting at Kulanihakoi High School Sept. 14, and students who wish to use the free bus service are encouraged to apply in advance. No additional enrollment is required for high school students.

The DOE will be providing security at the pick-up and drop-off locations and will also have staff on board the bus with students.

Three campuses in Lahaina remain closed for assessment, and one elementary school was badly damaged in the Aug. 8 fire, leaving families still there to choose between temporary placements or distance learning.

The distance learning program is still accepting applications and will be processed in about two weeks. Families can also register for the Kaiapuni distance learning program for Hawaiian immersion courses.

DOE communications director Nanea Kalani said that there are nearly 900 displaced students who have
applied for distance learning, including around 300 students still on a waitlist.

Superintendent Keith Hayashi said that the remaining Lahaina schools were on track to reopen after the fall break in mid-October.

Civil Beat’s education reporting is supported by a grant from Chamberlin Family Philanthropy