LIHU‘E — Former U.S. House member and Democratic candidate for Hawai‘i governor Neil Abercrombie says it’s time to return to a student-focused, no-nonsense approach to improving the state’s education system. At least one of his ideas to fix the system
LIHU‘E — Former U.S. House member and Democratic candidate for Hawai‘i governor Neil Abercrombie says it’s time to return to a student-focused, no-nonsense approach to improving the state’s education system.
At least one of his ideas to fix the system — he prefers to say “what’s right with it” rather than “what’s wrong with it” — could involve a bit of deja vu for those who recall how he worked as a collaborator in the state House to bring all parties together to the table to work together to beef up public education.
“There is no argument that we were moving forward” when he was a state House member and parties were talking, collaborating and improving the system, with nary a teacher grievance, compared to the confrontation and conflict that he says exists now in the state Department of Education and those seeking to influence it.
“It leads to everything else,” he said of his No. 1 priority, education.
“It’s time for a complete overhaul of our school system,” says one of Abercrombie’s issue cards. He said during a Friday interview at The Garden Island that his modus operandi as governor would be to empower teachers and principals and let those trained professionals determine how to improve education at the classroom level.
There can be no successful agricultural industry without people trained not only in the agronomic but economic aspects of it, said Abercrombie, adding that people have lost sight of the basic goal, which is education of children.
The key ingredients in order must be values, priorities and programs, not the reverse, he said.
He said former Gov. Ben Cayetano summoned Abercrombie from Washington, D.C. to help settle the contentious teacher strike of 2001, after trust issues clouded negotiations to end that two-week-long strike.
“Accountability comes after authority is given,” he said about giving teachers and principals the trust and green light to implement changes for the betterment of students.
“You have to have confidence in the line people, that they know what they’re doing and how best to do it,” said Abercrombie, who as governor would work hard “to reinstill confidence in public education.
“I’m totally confident” with DOE professionals, he said.
Abercrombie said that, as governor, he’ll start work on education and other important initiatives the day after the November general election.
“I’m a lot of things. Slow isn’t one of them,” said Abercrombie, addressing several other issues during the 90-minute interview:
Governing Ni‘ihau: He said he’d govern Ni‘ihau “gingerly,” adding the Robinson family which owns the island are good friends, and are “doing a good job of self-governance.”
Superferry: “I helped get the Superferry here,” and as governor would listen to anyone interested in bringing the Superferry back to the state if investors had sound financing and a good business plan. Hawai‘i represents the only islands in the world without some sort of water-based ferry system, he said.
Support for small businesses: “The Abercrombie advantage” is that he has connections in the U.S. Congress and White House, and the state is missing out on millions of dollars of federal aid for small businesses.
Energy self-sufficiency: “The governor has to lead the way,” said Abercrombie, adding that as governor he would establish an independent Hawai‘i energy authority, accept any assistance — monetary and otherwise — from the federal government, and encourage expeditious action on permits for alternative-energy projects. “I’m the only one who has made a commitment to the long run.”
Teen pregnancy: Perhaps if sex-education in the schools was beefed up, there would be fewer teen pregnancies, said Abercrombie, adding that young families need support.
Vacation rentals on agricultural lands: “Don’t designate agricultural land and not mean it,” said Abercrombie. “If somebody says ‘If I don’t get my way I’m going to sue you,’ they may very well do that. You have to decide whether the principle you’re standing for is worth it to be sued,” he said.
Medical marijuana: He said he’s for any drug prescribed by capable doctors for pain relief or other medicinal purposes. “I can’t imagine why anyone would want to deny the benefits of a drug to people in pain, when that prescription is being administered by competent medical authority. How to do that is the trick.”
Green harvest: “Green harvest has nothing to do with the real scourge of drug use today,” said Abercrombie, a former probation officer. There are lots more useful ways for law-enforcement officials to spend their time than “chasing marijuana growers,” said Abercrombie, adding they should put more effort into going after those dealing methamphetamine and cocaine.
Executive experience: When people say “executive experience” they really mean “leadership” versus “management experience,” he said. “All I can account for is myself,” said Abercrombie, adding that he’ll stack his leadership abilities against anyone.
Hate crimes: “Our diversity in Hawai‘i is supposed to define us, not divide us,” said Abercrombie, adding that the very first inhabitants of Hawai‘i were immigrants from other Polynesian islands.
Immigration: Abercrombie said he would have an office on Kaua‘i to try to duplicate what he did in Congress, especially in regards of “reunification” of families. He said if immigrants are here illegally under federal law, there’s nothing he can do. But he said he has tried to work for 20 years to mitigate those circumstances. “Each case needs to be looked at individually,” he said. “There may be rules that apply to everyone, but every single case has it’s own story.
Endorse Mufi Hannemann?: “We’ll take a look at that,” said Abercrombie, adding that he doesn’t know what the Democratic Party expects from candidates who lose in the primaries. “(Hannemann) is not interested in my support. He told me that to my face.”
Undergrounding utilities: Many Kaua‘i residents advocate for burying utility lines, to avoid the take of endangered seabirds. To bury one mile of utility lines, however, can cost almost $20 million. “Let the rich people pay for it. They do it all the time. They’re rich already, it doesn’t bother me any,” said Abercrombie, explaining that tax-exempt bonds purchased by the wealthy would fund the expensive burial of utility cables.
• Léo Azambuja, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) or lazambuja@kauaipubco.com.
• Paul C. Curtis, assistant editor and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or pcurtis@kauaipubco.com.
