(ABOVE VIDEO) A visit to Keonepoko Elementary School on the last day before closing indefinitely due to the approaching lava flow.

NEWS BRIEFS

• Keonepoko Elementary School held its last day of school on Tuesday. Located off Kahakai Boulevard makai of Pahoa and Highway 130, the school is projected to be in the path of the approaching lava flow.
• The school had a special assembly today, and students were invited to leave messages to Pele – the volcano deity – on red pieces of paper attached to the school’s outer fence.
• DOE faculty, staff, and administrators will spend the next few weeks working to prepare the new Keonepoko North facility at Kea‘au High School to receive students. The work will also include moving the school, furniture and equipment from Wednesday through Friday, October 29-31, and longer as needed.
• The Keonepoko students will be joined by students from Pahoa Elementary who live north of the lava flow’s projected pathway for their first day at the new Keonepoko Northset for Monday, November 10th.