Editorial
A high-stakes session at which we cannot fail

It appears that much of the hard work and horsetrading that will go into the special session of the Hawai'i Legislature opening tomorrow has already been done. In private.

That's a shame, because while efficiency and consensus are important, so too are the ideas of the broadest possible spectrum of Island society.

On the front page of today's Focus section, leaders of the four caucuses in the Legislature briefly outline their plans for the special session. Gov. Ben Cayetano's proposal — which focuses on a billion-dollar construction blitz with a focus on education — has been extensively discussed. His former gubernatorial opponent, Linda Lingle, offers her thoughts as the head of the Hawai'i Republican Party, on page B4 today.

And on the letters page today are yet more ideas from individual citizens on what we can do to shore up our economy in the short run and put it on a steady course for the long haul.

There are undoubtedly many more thoughts out there. Lawmakers should be open to them even as they rush into and through this brief emergency session.

What cannot happen — must not happen — is a session that ends in frustration or futility. The stakes are much too high.

We all understand that this one session of the Legislature cannot solve every problem. If the attacks of Sept. 11 taught us anything, it is that our future is in many ways determined by events over which we have no control.

But there are things we can control. That's where our Legislature must act. It must be be courageous, focused and visionary. It must be determined to care for those in need, committed to restoring the short-term and long-term economy, brave enough to invest in the future of education and — most importantly — willing to offer hope to a troubled state.

The voters will remember what happens next.