MANOA — Many parents of Manoa Elementary School students passed the first test — back-to-school traffic — as classes opened for dozens of Hawai'i public schools yesterday.

"We've been doing this for years," said Barbara Arashiro of 'Aiea, whose two children attend Manoa Elementary. "We work (the kids) into a routine where they go to bed early and wake up early to get to school early."

Manoa Elementary has quite a few students who live outside the district. Salt Lake resident Lynda Agena, another parent with children at the school, said she leaves 15 to 20 minutes earlier during the school year. "We pick out clothes and put everything together the night before; it gets crazy in the morning, what with traffic and everything," Agena said.

Their commute will only get more challenging, as the rest of the state's public schools open classes today and Monday, private schools open after that and the University of Hawai'i begins its school year on Aug. 24.

Fifty-three public schools opened yesterday, 84 open today and 107 open Monday.

Yesterday morning, Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona joined students at Makalapa Elementary School to wave signs and kick off the state's annual "Beat The School Jam" campaign. The campaign reminds people to watch for kids in crosswalks, adjust commute times if possible and try alternatives such as carpooling.

Schools are also placing more emphasis on hygiene after a number of campuses reported confirmed cases of swine flu several months ago at the end of the 2008-09 school year. Teachers are reminding children to wash their hands, cough onto their sleeves and cover their mouths.

"All doors have 'Prevent Flu' fliers and each classroom has hand-washing procedures posted," Manoa Elementary Principal Jeanette Uyeda said.

Parents are also reminding their children of safety and cautionary procedures.

"We tell (our son) normal school procedures," says Cari Yamafuji. "Wash your hands, don't put your hands in your mouth, cough in your sleeve, along with other stuff like only go home with Mom and Dad unless we tell him otherwise, make good choices in friends and pay attention in class."