As we struggle to stretch the value of our dollars during these difficult economic times, and begin to make holiday purchasing decisions, here are some seeds for thought. We ask the Hawaii community to, whenever possible, buy local. It matters!
When I heard that the founders of eBay donated $50 million to various charities in Hawaii, I began to view Hawaii's Department of Education as a charity. Beyond the money issues are the poor grading system, low standards and a slow curriculum.
Synopsis: Another of our beloved kupuna has recently passed on. Mālia Craver was a frequent guest on the Hawaiian language radio program Ka Leo Hawaii and was active in all aspects of the movement to revitalize the Hawaiian language and culture. The following tribute was sent in to Kauakukalahale by her longtime friend, Larry Kauanoe Kimura.
With Furlough Fridays a reality, efforts toward a long-term solution are overdue. The time that some are now devoting to finger-pointing and affixing blame are a distraction from the more important work we have before us. The real question is, as the economic torrent threatens to erode the foundation of public education, what can we do?
As we move closer to breaking ground on Honolulu's rail transit project, we're also continuing to aggressively repair and improve long-neglected roads and other vital infrastructure.
Misunderstanding persists about the Hawaii State Teachers Association contract with the state, which was recently ratified. This is apparent in quotes from several individuals appearing in Star-Bulletin articles, as well as in the letters to the editor.