Leilehua’s athletic teams may lose two days of practice with the school announcing temporary closure due to the potential threat of a brush fire.
On Monday afternoon, Mules football coach Nolan Tokuda cancelled practice due to the smoke generated by the fire.
This morning, the Department of Education cancelled classes at Leilehua High School, Iliahi Elementary School, Wahiawa Elementary and Wahiawa Middle School.
“Two days of no practice,” Tokuda texted early in the morning, noting that his daughter’s preschool cancelled school, as well.
He can recall two other instances of fire forcing cancellation of classes.
“Once a transformer blew up and the forest caught fire. 1998 was the first one I remember,” Tokuda texted.
The smoke blowing from the fire through the rest of Central Oahu is prominent. As far away as Makakilo, residents can detect it. Leilehua is scheduled to host Punahou on Saturday in a preseason game.
“We may have to consider cancelling our game again against Punahou. Last year, it was a tsunami watch and this year it’s smoke,” Tokuda wrote. “I wonder what’s in store the next season.”
Wahiawa can be a wet place, but wind and dry conditions forced evacuations on Monday.
“This is the first time I am praying for rain in Wahiawa,” Tokuda added. “Other times, I pray for it not to rain.”
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