Midlevel grade
for Matayoshi
HONOLULU (AP) — The Hawaii Board of Education says Schools Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi “fully meets expectations.”
It’s her first evaluation since she was appointed to the position leading Hawaii’s public schools in 2010.
The middling grade reflects both the ups and downs of the statewide district under her leadership. During her tenure, Hawaii schoolchildren have improved their test scores but federal officials have threatened to take away Hawaii’s $75 million Race to the Top grant because of unsatisfactory progress on reforms. Matayoshi earns $150,000 a year leading the school district.
Tripler, Queen’s join to help kids
HONOLULU (AP) — A Honolulu hospital and a military hospital are partnering to provide behavioral health services to Hawaii’s children.
U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye spoke during a ceremony at Wahiawa Elementary School Wednesday for its new school-based behavioral health building.
The Queen’s Medical Center has partnered with Tripler Army Medical Center and the state Department of Education to expand Tripler’s behavioral health services to children and families of civilians or non-Department of Defense dependents. Tripler has had a school behavioral health team for more than a decade and this is the first time the services will be expanded outside the Army community.
Hawaii, Japan sign energy pact
HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii and three Japanese prefectures have agreed on clean energy and trade opportunities.
Gov. Neil Abercrombie on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding with governors from Hiroshima, Saga and Shizuoka.
The governor’s office says the historic agreement solidifies Hawaii’s and Japan’s commitment to technological development in renewable energy and energy efficiency. Prior to signing the memorandum of understanding, the Japanese governors met with U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, Abercrombie and Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz to discuss exchange opportunities for clean energy and trade.
Federal judge hears rail debate
HONOLULU (AP) — Decision on a lawsuit challenging Honolulu’s planned rail project now rests with a 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals judge.
Judge A. Wallace Tashima heard several hours of arguments Tuesday in a packed federal courtroom in Honolulu on the environmental challenge.
It’s not clear when he could make a decision.
At issue are claims the city and federal government violated environmental law, including not studying alternatives to rail and not completing an archaeological survey of the entire route to determine whether there are any Native Hawaiian burials before the project was approved.
KHON-TV reports Tashima addressed the mayoral election, where former Gov. Ben Cayetano is running to put the brakes on the $5 billion project. The judge said who wins the election will not determine what happens in court.
