State of Hawaii Archives: on Education
Andria Tupola:
Education needs to be an interconnected community issue
The vision for Hawaii, Tupola said, should be to create an atmosphere where local businesses can thrive, and to be a champion for education and underserved communities. School enrollment, she said, declined by 1% last year, while charter
school enrollment increased by 5%. "We definitely need better education, but we can't keep choking people with more taxes and creating high cost of living, we have to look at it as one interconnected issue that we have to solve together" she said.
Source: The Kaua'i Garden Island on 2018 Hawaii gubernatorial race
Jul 31, 2018
Benjamin Cayetano:
$290M for school capital improvements
Over the past six years, we made education our highest priority. We increased teacher salaries, extended the school year by seven days, and built a record number of new schools and classrooms. This year, I ask you to approve my request for $290 million
for school capital improvements -- $90 million for the construction of new schools and classrooms, $100 million for repair and maintenance, and an additional $100 million to renovate our older schools.
Source: 2001 State of the State address to Hawaii Legislature
Jan 22, 2001
Bob McDermott:
Sues state over overcrowded school
McDermott filed a class action lawsuit against the state over claims that Campbell High School is "grossly" overcrowded and nothing being done to address it.
The suit also asks for air conditioning for Campbell, which currently has more than 3,200 students, nearly twice its capacity McDermott also wants improved capacity in the cafeteria, which only has room for 890 children.
Source: HawaiiNewsNow.com on 2018 Hawaii Senate race
Jul 2, 2017
Cam Cavasso:
Oppose nationwide Common Core standards
Question topic: The federal government should establish nationwide standards (such as Common Core) for high-school graduation.
Cavasso: Strongly Disagree
Source: Faith2Action iVoterGuide on 2014 Hawaii Senate race
Sep 30, 2014
Charles Djou:
Empower parental involvement in schools over bureaucracy
We need a reformed education system that puts children first. I believe we must turn education right-side up by making principals and teachers accountable for our children's education and empowering parental involvement in schools.
Principals in turn must have the resources they need, including adequate funding and the ability to remove underperforming teachers.
The cost of educational bureaucracy must be reduced to insure that education dollars are spent in the classroom and teachers have the tools they need to educate our children, including continuing teacher education and training.
That's how good school systems work. We cannot continue to limit our children's potential in school systems that don't teach.
Source: 2014 Hawaii gubernatorial campaign website, Djou.com
Dec 20, 2013
David Ige:
Quality public education necessary for a strong economy
Improving public education is one of my top priorities. I will reform the public education system to empower individual schools so that teachers and school principals make the decisions on curriculum and instruction, educational programs, and expenditure
of school funds. Those closest to the students understand best how their students should be educated. The Board of Education, which is appointed by the Governor, has failed to provide the leadership that empowers individual schools.
As a result, student performance does not attain maximum potential.As a proud product of public schools, education created great opportunities for me that I would not have had otherwise. Hawai'i's children deserve
quality public education that provides an opportunity for all students to achieve their highest potential. Quality public education also creates a workforce with the skills and knowledge that are necessary for a strong economy.
Source: 2014 Hawaii gubernatorial campaign website DavidIge.org
Aug 9, 2014
David Ige:
Implement early education through DOE, not private schools
I support early childhood education but I am opposed to the proposed constitutional amendment that allows taxpayer dollars to be spent on private preschools. The constitutional amendment is ill-conceived because it asks voters to approve a preschool
program that gives your tax dollars to private entities that admittedly lack the capacity to admit all eligible children and are not located in areas of greatest need.
Even though tax dollars would go to private schools, there are no cost estimates, no details of how the program will work, and no indication that all children will have an equal opportunity to enroll in a private preschool.
As Governor, I would allocate those tax dollars to the Department of Education and task the DOE to implement early education, starting in the areas of greatest need.
Source: 2014 Hawaii gubernatorial campaign website DavidIge.org
Aug 9, 2014
David Ige:
Improving public education is one of my top priorities
Q: Are you satisfied with the way Hawaii's public school system is run? How can it be run better?A: Improving public education is one of my top priorities. I believe that we must empower schools to enable those closest to the students to make
decisions on curriculum, programs, and spending. Our "top-down" bureaucracy should be reorganized so that the system supports our schools, rather than the other way around.
To move from a compliance-driven bureaucracy, as governor I will increase funds and opportunities to support school-initiated, innovative approaches to education.
The Board of Education, which is appointed by the governor, has failed to provide
leadership that encourages "out-of-the box" creative thinking by school administrators. I will appoint individuals to the Board of Education who have a stake in the system's success, including those with children in public schools.
Source: Honolulu Civil Beat Q&A on 2014 Hawaii gubernatorial race
Jul 11, 2014
David Ige:
Opposes vouchers, but supports charters
Q: Do you support the national Common Core State Standards initiative?A: Yes.
Q: Do you support a merit pay system for teachers?
A: Yes.
Q: Should parents be allowed to use vouchers to send their children to any school?
A: No.
Q: Do you support state funding for charter schools?
A: Yes.
Source: Hawaii Congressional Election 2012 Political Courage Test
Nov 1, 2012
David Ige:
Too many decisions made by state instead of locally
Ige challenged Abercrombie on public schools. "Across the board, principals are saying that they've lost autonomy that more and more decisions are being made by the state board and the state department, and they don't believe they
can make the decisions to move the school board forward," he said."First we say public employees aren't doing their job, now we're saying that the Board of Education isn't doing its job," Abercrombie responded.
Source: Hawaii News Now on 2014 Hawaii gubernatorial debate
Jul 9, 2014
David Ige:
Universal pre-K crucial to education reform
We must create a universal, statewide high-quality public preschool system that will give every child a head-start on learning. Ultimately, we will need more than 300 public pre-K classrooms. I am proposing to the Department of Education that we
look at our elementary schools in a whole different light; That we reinvent our elementary education by making early learning an integral part of our children's overall elementary curriculum. That's why
I am proposing to the DOE that we restructure those schools presently composed of Kindergarten through grade 6 to pre-K through grade 5. We also want to apply "best practices" learned from our own Public Pre-Kindergarten Program and from other states
who have added preschools to their public education system. Of all the initiatives upon which we've embarked, I believe this one will make the greatest difference in preparing our children for the future and in creating a 21st century workforce.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to Hawaii legislature
Jan 22, 2019
David Ige:
Maximize school land by building compatible structures
Last year, the Legislature established a School Facilities Agency to bring our aging school buildings into the 21st century. Even before the pandemic, the new agency was viewed as an exciting new initiative which will also provide jobs and economic
opportunities for Hawai?i. The School Facilities Agency is a first step in maximizing school lands by building teacher housing, childcare facilities, after-school centers and other uses that are compatible with school facilities.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Hawaii legislature
Jan 25, 2021
David Ige:
Virtual learning can supplement in-person classes
Virtual classrooms became a necessity, but we also learned that they could supplement in-person classes and provide opportunities that would not otherwise be available. That's why we're supporting the expansion of virtual classrooms and the Hawai'i
Virtual Learning Network.We've long talked about distance learning--but more as an alternative to the traditional classroom. The pandemic made us realize that we could use virtual classrooms to ensure that every student has every opportunity to learn.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Hawaii legislature
Jan 24, 2022
Duke Aiona:
Yes to charters; no to national standards
Q: Do you support national education standards?A: No.
Q: Do you support using a merit pay system for teachers?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you support state funding for charter schools?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you support the state government providing
college students with financial aid?
A: Yes.
Aiona adds, "We must ensure Hawai'i has a world-class public education system, which is the key to long-term prosperity and broad-based economic growth.
Hawai'i has some of the best teachers in the world, but without enough money going into the classroom, they don't have the resources to achieve their goals. It's not just about spending more money, it's about getting the most out of every dollar we
invest. I'll support 'Race to the Top' educational reforms, direct more money to the classroom, expand STEM programs in all schools by 2012, expand pre-kindergarten opportunities and strive for a world-class University system.
Source: Hawaii Gubernatorial Election 2010 Political Courage Test
Nov 1, 2010
Duke Aiona:
Shift control from statewide district to local community
Hawaii is the only school district in the United States that encompasses an entire state. Education is an inherently local issue. Our local communities, whether it be on Molokai, in Hanalei, or in urban Honolulu, understand their needs best. As
a result, they have a better grasp of what their students need than any bureaucrat does. It would be in the best interest of our families and their futures to finally discuss these issues and decide what type of public school structure our state needs.
Source: Honolulu Civil Beat on 2022 Hawaii Gubernatorial race
Jun 21, 2022
Eddie Pirkowski:
Oppose nationwide Common Core standards
Question topic: The federal government should establish nationwide standards (such as Common Core) for high-school graduation.
Pirkowski: Strongly Disagree
Source: Faith2Action iVoterGuide on 2014 Hawaii Senate race
Jul 2, 2014
Josh Green:
Develop and fund a universal public Pre-K program
- Nurturing Hawaii's keiki is so important that it deserves its own special focus.
- We care about every child in our islands, and we believe that in order to thrive and succeed, our keiki need consistent educational enrichment, healthcare,
nutrition, and safety.
- From Pre-K through community college and beyond, we are committed to investing in the education of every child in Hawaii to increase every child's chance for success, their lifetime potential and productivity.
-
Develop and fund a universal public Pre-K program to prepare our keiki for success;
- Expand literacy programs for students who need extra help reading;
- Hire and retain quality, experienced teachers by offering competitive pay, benefits, and
affordable housing so they can afford to live in Hawaii;
- Conduct a comprehensive review of Department of Education spending to identify and direct more resources into our classrooms.
- [Note: "Keiki" is Hawaiian for "children."]
Source: 2022 Hawaii Governor campaign website JoshGreenForHawaii.com
Aug 17, 2022
Josh Green:
Offer every high school graduate free community college
- Offer every high school graduate in Hawaii a free community college education;
-
Nominate quality candidates to the Board of Education who reflect Hawaii's diversity, including experienced educators;
- Seek more federal funding to invest in our students, teachers, and schools.
Source: 2022 Hawaii Governor campaign website JoshGreenForHawaii.com
Aug 17, 2022
Kai Kahele:
We need to address teacher hiring and retention
Our local kids deserve good local schools. Our public education system can do better. The Department of Education (DOE) needs proposals that address teacher hiring and retention, additional resources leveraged through DOE assets, and improved
facilities. We need to ensure that our public school teachers feel valued and respected through improving their work environments and developing programs to incentivize retention.
Source: 2022 Hawaii Gubernatorial campaign website KaiKahele.com
May 12, 2022
Linda Lingle:
I support PBS, but Big Bird is not essential to America
Hirono and Lingle don't agree on much in their race for US Senate, but they both like Big Bird. The "Sesame Street" icon-turned 2012 political hot topic played an upfront role in a freewheeling debate. The debate began with the moderator bringing out a
stuffed doll of Big Bird and asking if cuts to PBS are serious. Lingle at first said she's friends with the chief executive of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and that she's been a supporter of PBS, backing off remarks from a previous debate
that PBS should be considered for cuts along with other programs if they're not deemed essential.
"Linda seems to have changed her mind," Hirono said. Lingle then clarified her previous comments, saying she was talking about PBS in the context of
the rest of the nation's spending.
"It's going to be very important for people to look across the spectrum of how we spend our money and set some priorities," Lingle said. "I did say I'm not sure that Big Bird is essential to the defense of America."
Source: Reuters on 2012 Hawaii Senate debate
Oct 20, 2012
Mark Takai:
Invest in our public schools with federal funds
We need to invest in our public schools to make them better and more competitive. The U.S. ranks in the middle to the lower portion of industrialized nations in terms of educational performance. As the leading nation in the world on so many other issues,
this is unacceptable.We must continue to invest in early childhood education to build the foundation for our children and their education. Early childhood education offers the best opportunity to close achievement gaps and is a major differentiator
between advantaged and disadvantaged students.
In 2005, I personally discovered that Hawaii was not participating in an obscure provision of the U.S. Department of Education Impact Aid Program. I made my voice loud and clear that this was not fair and
was unacceptable, and I'm proud to have won awards for recovering more than $40 million in lost federal funds for Hawaii's public school system. I can't wait to get to the U.S. House of Representatives, roll up my sleeves and find millions more.
Source: 2014 Hawaii House campaign website, MarkTakai.com
Nov 4, 2014
Neil Abercrombie:
Improving public education is one of my top priorities
Q: Are you satisfied with the way Hawaii's public school system is run? How can it be run better?ABERCROMBIE: Our students' test scores are up for fourth- and eighth-graders. We have more graduates going to college. The school system is improving
and the work of our administrators, educators and students is undeniable. The process of listening, fine-tuning and improving the system is based not only on data and evidence but also feedback from teachers and principals on the front line.
I am confident that the Board of Education, superintendent, and her team can and will continue to make it even better by refining the process and moving forward for the benefit of Hawaii's children.
IGE: Our "top-down" bureaucracy should be
reorganized so that the system supports our schools, rather than the other way around. To move from a compliance-driven bureaucracy, as governor I will increase funds and opportunities to support school-initiated, innovative approaches to education.
Source: Honolulu Civil Beat Q&A on 2014 Hawaii gubernatorial race
Jul 23, 2014
Ron Curtis:
We can better serve students teaching them the "how" skills
The current "common core" based curriculum in our K-12 classrooms does more for preparing for standardized tests than it does for preparing them for post high school education and careers. We can do a better job by focusing more on teaching
the students how to learn, how to reason, how to problem solve, how to troubleshoot, how to research, and how to analyze. Those skills on the "how" will serve the students far better than the standard based test knowledge.
Source: 2018 Hawaii Senate campaign website RonCurtis808.com
Aug 8, 2018
Page last updated: Feb 18, 2023