EDITORIAL
Lingle administration needs long honeymoon

Congratulations to Gov. Linda Lingle as she takes office today. The state clearly is watching with a mixed attitude of skepticism and hope: Change is scary, after all. And change — lots of it — is what Lingle promised.

Lingle promised "A New Beginning," but addressed her campaign more to her perception of shortcomings of the Cayetano administration than to exactly what now will change, and how. We expect these programs, richly detailed, to unfold in short order.

These ideas deserve a respectful hearing and, in the new Legislature, a cooperative and positive reaction. Lingle was, after all, the popular choice on Nov. 5, and — within reason, of course — deserves a chance to put her plans into motion.

Lingle today confronts some challenges that are every bit as daunting as those Cayetano inherited in 1994: It's far from obvious how limited tax revenues are going to be stretched to pay for the services that Hawai'i residents expect. Cayetano leaves a suggested budget that gets to the break-even point by absorbing the $200 million Hurricane Relief Fund, a budgeting approach that Lingle flatly rejects.

Cayetano leaves office honorably, with no shortage of problems unsolved, but with a considerable record of accomplishment. He will be remembered for his caring and his candor. He has put into place an array of tools that Lingle can use to realize the state's long-held dreams of high-tech jobs and better healthcare.

Lingle inherits the state's greatest challenges: improvement of public education, and greater economic progress.

We wish Lingle the greatest success, and urge that all of us try to help that happen.