HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - The state has made progress in an effort to get fully operational fire alarms in all public schools in Hawaii.

At a Board of Education (BOE) meeting Thursday, officials said there are now just two schools across the state whose fire alarm systems are “malfunctioning,” but still operational.

Both schools are on Hawaii Island, Hilo Intermediate School and Pahoa High and Intermediate School, are now on the BOE’s fire watch system. They’ll rely on witnesses to spread alerts about fires.

It’s an improvement from 18 months ago, when 22 public schools statewide were without working fire alarms.

“Many of the fire alarms in the schools are older. The average age is about 24 years. All of these alarms, even though they’re all working, except for those two that require

See Full Page