Hawaiʻi Police Department
Hāmākua District
Captain Andrew Burian
Phone: 775-7533
Media Release
Hawaiʻi Island police closed Pakalana Street in Honokaʻa to the general public at 9:45 a.m. Thursday (September 18) while students from Honoka‘a Elementary, Intermediate and High Schools were evacuated as a precaution due to a chemical odor in the area.
During the evacuation, Pakalana Street was open only to parents picking up students from Honoka‘a Elementary School.
A Fire Department Haz-Mat team determined that the odor was caused by pesticide that had been sprayed at a residence in close proximity to the school.
After personnel from the State Department of Health and State Department of Agriculture responded to the scene and investigated, school officials announced that all three schools will be open tomorrow.
Pakalana Street was reopened to the public at noon.