Lingle has proposed cutting half of the Department of Education's $5.5 million adult education program. She noted a number of adult education leisure topics like guitar playing and gardening are not "core functions" of the department and that cutting half the budget would still continue programs for essential topics such as English as a second language for those who cannot afford private classes.

But state schools superintendent Pat Hamamoto and other education officials said such leisure classes are virtually self-sustaining and that most of the adult education budget pays for adult literacy and high school diplomas, citizenship training for recent immigrants and English-as-a-second-language classes.

Meanwhile, the Senate Ways and Means Committee's draft of the budget rejected Lingle's proposal to cut adult education.

This is the fourth time in six years that adult education students and supporters have protested cuts at the state Capitol, said Farrington Community School for Adults principal Liberato Viduya.

Joscelyn Givens, a 38-year-old mother, is working on getting her high school diploma at Windward School for Adults. Without the program, "I wouldn't be able to practice what I preach to my kids" about getting an education, she said.

Tom Trenz, president of the student council at the McKinley School for Adults, said adult education classes are essential to the survival of immigrants who can't speak or read English. Trenz said students are hoping to give Lingle an eight-minute video on adult education produced by students.

Lingle acknowledged the value of the programs but said that adult education may be a function better suited within the community college system. She said there may be money available within the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations that could be used for job training classes.

"Adult education is an important function, but not for the Department of Education," she said.

A state audit in October recommended that the adult education program be turned over to the community college system because of a lack of efficiency and oversight.

Advertiser staff writer Gordon Y.K. Pang contributed to this report.