A page from the Hawaii News............

[Mark]

You know, I really can't believe our state officals. All these people were doing was trying to get kids back into school.

School Furlough Protesters To Be Sentenced Friday
Some Accept Plea Deal, Others To Plead No Contest

By Keoki Kerr KITV4 News
KITV-TV
updated less than 1 minute ago
Share Print Font: + - HONOLULU - KITV.com

The 20 people ticketed or arrested for an eight-day sit-in at the governor's office this past spring are scheduled to be sentenced in state district court tomorrow.

Nine of the school furlough protesters plan to take a deal from city prosecutors to avoid getting a criminal record in the trespassing cases, but 11 of them have refused a deal are pleading no contest.

The city prosecutor's office is handling the case instead of the state attorney general, even though state sheriff's deputies gave out the trespassing tickets and made the arrests in April.

The governor refused to meet with the protesters during their eight-day protest at the capitol when school children did their homework and some napped in sleeping bags in the governor's reception area.

Each evening when the office closed, those who stayed behind were threatened with citations or arrest for trespassing, if they had already been ticketed the days before.

Marguerite Higa was one of four people arrested. She's a zoology professor at University of Hawaii Manoa with no criminal record. Her daughter is a fourth grader at Noelani Elementary School in Manoa.

Higa said she's pleading "no contest" to petty misdemeanor trespassing charges because city prosecutors were "unreasonable" and would not negotiate terms of a deal that would have required her to perform 60 hours of community service.

"That amount of hours is, from what I understand, kind of on par with a DUI conviction. You know, we didn't present any danger to the public. You know, we were sitting there waiting to speak to the governor," Higa said.

Higa wanted to have the option of paying a higher fine in lieu of dozens of hours of community service, but she and other defendants said the deputy city prosecutor assigned to the case offered a "take it or leave it" deal that included community service.

Higa and the other three people arrested could face up to 60 days in jail. And if one of them gets sentenced to time behind bars, she said the public will not be happy.

"I think they'd be horrified. I mean, quite frankly I think most people think that this whole thing is over. I get reactions all the time like, 'Oh, you have to go back to court?'" she said.

Nine of the protesters are taking plea agreements that will convert the criminal trespass violations into non-criminal violations, but require them to perform community service, perhaps at public schools.

University of Hawaii West Oahu student Michael Doyle, 22, was also arrested. He told KITV 4 News he's taking the plea deal, because "It would probably be the safest bet. I didn't want to take my chances with the legal ramifications."

A political science major, Doyle is also running for the State House as a Democrat against incumbent Sharon Har, representing Kapolei and Makakilo.

"Right now, I don't think I could afford 30 or 60 days in jail. I'm running for office and I have school and all of that," Doyle said.

The protesters are being represented by well-known defense attorney Eric Seitz who is not charging them for his services.

Their sentencing is set for Friday afternoon in state district court.

[Sionnach Glic]

Just what was this whole protest over?

[SolkaTruesilver]

Very good question. What was the protest over?

[Mark]

They were protesting mandatory furlogh fridays for students. They shut down public schools 3 fridays a month, forcing teachers to take unpaid days off, and parents to scramble to make arraingments for they're kids.

Hawaii has one of the WORST public school systems in the nation, and education is always getting cut. Most mainland schools have gone computer. Out here, they can't even get new textbooks.

The governers response was the teachers should work those days for free as a community service, if they were really worried about it.

Protestesters were persecuted, and arrested as seen above.

[Sionnach Glic]

So what was the logic behind these "Furlough Days"? What were they supposed to achieve?

[BigJKU316]

So what was the logic behind these "Furlough Days"? What were they supposed to achieve?

It is a budget saving measure. I believe if you want to cut their pay rate you have to negotiate with the Union. But because they are paid by the day if you make them take days off you can just save the money.

[SolkaTruesilver]

So what was the logic behind these "Furlough Days"? What were they supposed to achieve?

Guess:

Official reason = Respect the culturage heritage of blablablabla hawaiian

real reason: Cut the salary of your teachers by 20% 3 weeks/month

[Mark]

Thats pretty much it. Tempers were flaring because the state was getting as fuckton of money to build a friggin' monorail system, but were forcing teachers to take time off and close schools.

Governer refused to negotiate, and as you saw, refused to meet with the folks she supposedly represents.

Finally, money was taken from the hurricane fund to make up the difference.................an entire school year later.

[Sionnach Glic]

Why on Earth would Hawaii of all places need a monorail system?

[SolkaTruesilver]

Why on Earth would Hawaii of all places need a monorail system?

Less roads used by the population. Less reliance on taxis and rented cars.

I would actually see how it would work very well, specially for Hawaii, as it would make a very pleasurable experience for tourists to go around the island in a nice monorail.

[Mark]

It's supposed to ease the morning commute from the west side of the island. Traffic snarls up, forcing people into 90 minute commutes to and from work.

A new freeway would do the same damned thing, and cost a fuckton less. That's actually one of the platforms a mayorial candadite is taking.

[Tsukiyumi]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEZjzsnPhnw

[Mikey]

I assume that you mean the monorail project is targeted at Oahu, yes? Of course, we're talking about an island state with an interstate highway.

[Mark]

I assume that you mean the monorail project is targeted at Oahu, yes? Of course, we're talking about an island state with an interstate highway.

Yessir.....and not just a regular interstate...........and Eisenhower interstate...whatever the hell that means.

[Sonic Glitch]

I assume that you mean the monorail project is targeted at Oahu, yes? Of course, we're talking about an island state with an interstate highway.

Yessir.....and not just a regular interstate...........and Eisenhower interstate...whatever the hell that means.

Probably part of the original interstate plan developed by the Eisenhower administration I would assume