(ABOVE) Satellite image shows a busy Pacific, as two different storms heads towards Hawaii. the first, Iselle is already prompting school closures.

HILO, Hawaii – As Hawaii braces for Iselle, the State Department of Education is already announcing school closures on Hawaii Island and Maui County.

HONOLULU – The Hawaii State Department of Education (DOE) is scheduling closures at designated public schools in advance of storms Iselle and Julio. On Thursday, Aug. 7, all public schools in Hawaii and Maui Counties (Maui, Molokai, Lanai) will be closed. All other public schools will remain open and continue their regular school schedule and afterschool activities.

“The force of these storms remain uncertain, however, we do not want to wait until last minute to close our schools,” said Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi. “Additionally, many of our schools are designated emergency shelters and it is necessary to prepare these facilities as the storms approach.”

State and County Civil Defense officials expect Iselle to impact Hawaii Island and Maui County (Maui, Molokai, Lanai) on Thursday. Julio is currently forecasted to impact the Hawaiian Islands on Sunday. School closures are being made according to the storms’ paths and in preparation of designated emergency shelter sites.

On Wednesday, Aug. 6, the following Hawaii County public schools, which are designated emergency shelters, will close at 2 p.m. This means all afterschool activities for students and staff are canceled at these schools, as well as any scheduled public meetings.

Hawaii County designated shelters:
Laupahoehoe
Kohala High & Elementary
Kealakehe High (pet friendly)
Konawaena High (pet friendly)
Hilo High (pet friendly)
Waiakea High (pet friendly)
Keaau High (pet friendly)
Pahoa High & Intermediate (pet friendly)
Honokaa High & Intermediate (pet friendly)
Kau High (pet friendly)
Waikoloa Elementary

On Thursday, Aug. 7, all public schools in Hawaii and Maui Counties (Maui, Molokai, Lanai) will be closed.

The schools in Hawaii and Maui Counties that are designated emergency shelters will remain closed on Friday. The Hawaii County schools are listed above, Maui County designated shelters are:

Baldwin High
Lokelani Intermediate
Kekaulike High
Hana High & Elementary
Molokai High
Kilohana Elementary

In Hawaii County, three complex areas serve more than 23,000 students: Hilo-Laupahoehoe-Waiakea (7,864), Honokaa-Kealakehe-Kohala-Konawaena (10,167), Kau-Keaau-Pahoa (5,414). There are more than 21,000 students in Maui County on three islands. Statewide, the DOE serves about 185,000 students at 255 public schools.

DOE officials continue to meet with State Civil Defense and are closely monitoring the storms’ patterns. Information regarding public schools and afterschool activities will be announced as needed.

For updated information, follow the DOE on Twitter at @HIDOE808.