EDITORIAL
A new year, a new chance to succeed

Hawai'i begins the New Year with an unmistakable whiff of optimism in the air.

Part of it may be the presence of a new state administration — not just new faces but a new political party and new philosophies.

Another explanation for the hint of optimism is simply a matter of contrast: Last New Year's, we were still shaken by the recent events of Sept. 11. Uncertainty was a dominant feeling.

It's true that a year later we are still trying to find our footing in the war on terrorism. But a year has gone by. We have assimilated these new uncertainties into our lives. And we are determined to move on despite them.

Economically, there are reasons to expect steady, if mild, recovery in 2003. In its annual "Business Outlook" report, The Advertiser's Business Section came away with the impression that — while there remains plenty to worry about — the overall economic outlook for 2003 is positive.

All this should not discount the weight of the work ahead. Yes, we are optimistic, but mild optimism alone will not resolve crushing decisions about balancing the budget, meeting citizen demands for government services and dealing with tough choices about health, welfare and education at a time when resources are tight.

Our No. 1 hope for the New Year is that political leaders in the state as well as the four counties have the courage and determination to meet these challenges head-on. And as citizens and taxpayers, we must support them as they make their hard choices.

So in that spirit of optimism balanced against the sober reality of the task ahead, here are a handful of our New Year's wishes for a prosperous, improving Hawai'i.

Education

At every level, from early childhood education to the dream of a fully world-class university system, this has to be priority No. 1 in 2003.

By the end of this year, we want to see Hawai'i fully on the road to a universal pre-school system, in which each and every child would have the best possible start to a lifetime of learning.

In our public schools, we want to see a full-scale return to a "Marshall Plan" effort to revitalize and upgrade the physical facilities of our education system. While it is true that education is about more than bricks and mortar, it is unarguable that pride in education begins with pride of place.

Beyond the physical, however, comes the challenge of bringing our schools into compliance both with the new federal No Child Left Behind law and our own expectations. This cannot happen overnight, but 2003 can be the year remembered for sea changes in the way our school system works.

There will be interesting, and perhaps important, debates about governance issues. But there is much that can be done short of that discussion.

For starters, the Legislature should sit down with the unions and enter serious discussions about taking principals out of the union. Education research proves that the best schools almost always trace their successes to a committed, dynamic principal.

We should take our principals out of the union, pay them top-level executive salaries and put them on performance contracts. There is plenty of talent out there; we simply have to attract it and give it the freedom to lead.

At the University of Hawai'i, the entire community should get behind the Dobelle administration's drive to convert it into a nationally known, "tier one" institution. Our young people deserve the opportunity to seek out the very best educational opportunities right here at home. And a dynamic, growing university can be an engine for economic revitalization.

Hawaiian issues

While the process of self-determination is one that ultimately must be left to Hawaiians to decide, the entire community has a stake in this process. Perhaps the clearest example is the case of ceded lands, those former crown and Hawaiian government lands now held in trust by the state.

Legally and morally, it is critical that the proper use of these lands and disposition of income earned from them be resolved in 2003. Settling the ceded lands question is an economic imperative as well. As long as land title or use is clouded, even slightly, investors will be afraid to commit to projects or business in the Islands.

There is so much more, of course, including revamping our corrections system from one that warehouses and punishes to one that heals. We need to strengthen the social safety net that became so frayed during years of economic struggle. We must recommit our energy and resources to preserving and protecting our natural assets, our beaches, mountains and open space.

And finally, our hope for 2003 is that we will each honor our neighbor, celebrate our diversity, respect our differences and live together in aloha.