Preschool severely damaged in April floods suffers re-opening delays

AINA HAINA, OAHU (HawaiiNewsNow) - The first day at Calvary by the Sea School was supposed to be last week Monday.

But then parents learned the school didn't have its city permit and inspection to open.

"It was very difficult having to start the school year with the worst news that a director could deliver to the parents," said Momi Martinez, director of Calvary by the Sea School.

Parent Bryce Harken said the news was "surprising."

"I know the school went through a lot, a whole lot," he said.

April's historic flooding left the preschool and kindergarten under a thick layer of muck.

The school community renovated a side building and created makeshift classroom spaces. But without a green light to open, parents like Jennifer Matsumiya made a difficult decision remove their children from their beloved school to go elsewhere.

"It's was tough so it was like yank the Band-aid and go. I'm sorry. It's so last minute," she said.

The school's project manager, Jewell Tuitele, believes the permitting process got stuck in a bottleneck and stalled.

"We were told if we had emergency permits, they would prioritize our applications," said Tuitele.

On Tuesday, Calvary by the Sea got a permit for its side building. There's more to do, though, and the school still doesn't have a date when it can reopen.

The city says inspectors will go to the site to do a final inspection.

"The DPP expedited the building permit process, but despite state and county emergency proclamations that allowed certain exemptions, the DPP could not circumvent the federal flood requirements, which complicated the permit process. Once the federal requirements were met, we were able to issue the building permit on Aug. 14," said a statement from the city Department of Planning and Permitting.

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