Hawai'i briefs

Advertiser Staff and News Services

LeMahieu would like to stay in Hawai'i

HILO, Hawai'i — Former state schools superintendent Paul LeMahieu said last night he wants to remain in Hawai'i "if I can make a contribution."

LeMahieu was on the Big Island to serve as keynote speaker at a statewide gathering of officials of charter schools, which he said are making a valuable contribution despite what detractors may say.

Instead of tightening controls on the new charter schools, he suggested greater freedom.

"We need to be expand them and be more tolerant," he said in an interview before his prepared speech. But he said he fears that Hawai'i tends to reject anything with "the slightest imperfection."

LeMahieu resigned last month, saying he was no longer able to do his job effectively. Playing into his decision was the Legislature's investigation into his relationship with a woman to whose firm he granted a special-education contract.

Last night, LeMahieu said he and his family want to stay in Hawai'i but the prospects "do not look great" because " I am not entitled" to $45,000 in severance that the Board of Education wanted to award him. "But it would help me make a thoughtful decision. I very much want to stay," he said.

Since the idea was proposed, the attorney general's office has advised the board that it cannot legally grant severance to him.

Stennis battle group heading to war front

The Pearl Harbor-based cruiser USS Port Royal and the rest of the aircraft carrier USS John Stennis battle group will head to the Arabian Sea ahead of schedule.

The group will leave San Diego on Monday to relieve the USS Carl Vinson battle group, the Pentagon said.

The Stennis battle group, which comprises six ships, was to depart in January.

Three Pearl Harbor-based ships — the destroyer USS O'Kane and attack submarines USS Key West and USS Olympia — are part of the Vinson battle group.