Students are back on campus at Na'alehu Elementary on the Big Island after Hurricane Lala shut the school down for two months — a relief for families who have been scrambling since August.

• About 400 kids gathered at the school flagpole for a welcome-back ceremony with hula and chanting.
• The August storm buried the campus in mud and left behind debris, broken glass, nails, and scattered appliances.
• Crews hauled away more than 600 tons of debris and redid rooms with new flooring, ceilings, paint, and mold cleanup.
• Students and staff spent the closure in a temporary setup at a district gym.

Outlook: Classes resume normally on the repaired campus, though storm recovery continues elsewhere on the Big Island, including people still being moved into shelters.