State schools superintendent Pat Hamamoto has resigned effective today, sources said.

Hamamoto was at the center of a controversial decision by the state to furlough teachers for 34 school days, which resulted in Hawaii having the shortest school calendar in the nation.
Yesterday Hamamoto attended a meeting with several top officials in Gov. Linda Lingle's administration in an attempt to reduce the furlough days. She made no indication in public statements after that meeting that she might be resigning.
Hamamoto, a former principal at McKinley High School, was appointed superintendent in December 2001.
Board of Education Chairman Garrett Toguchi released the following statement:
"Superintendent Hamamoto has informed the Board that she will be
retiring effective today. The Board extends its deepest appreciation
for all of her many years serving Hawaii's students and for her
dedication to public education, both as an educator and administrator.
Superintendent Hamamoto has worked tirelessly to ensure we had a
viable plan to reduce the number of furloughs at our public schools.
She has also volunteered to continue being part of the Department's
negotiating team to assist in reaching a resolution to bring students
back to the classroom. We thank her and wish her well.
"Deputy Superintendent Kathy Matayoshi immediately assumes the duties
of acting Superintendent. Ms. Matayoshi will manage a competent team
of educators focused on raising student achievement and improving the
quality of education for all of Hawaii's children."

The following background on Hamamoto is from the DOE Web site:
As superintendent, Hamamoto oversees a unified statewide school system of more than 172,000 students and 259 schools with an annual operating budget of more than $2.4 billion — the nation's tenth largest public school system.
Hamamoto is a career educator with more than 34 years of teaching and administrative experience in the DOE. She began teaching in October 1975 at Highlands Intermediate, and also taught at Ilima Intermediate and Pearl City High. She entered school administration as vice principal at Maui High in September 1983, and also served as vice principal at Nanakuli High & Intermediate. Her first principalship was at Pearl City Highlands Elementary in January 1987. She was a contract administration specialist in the state personnel office from July 1989 to December 1991. Hamamoto returned to the school level as principal of Likelike Elementary in December 1991, and became McKinley High principal in April 1992.
Hamamoto has a master's degree in educational administration from the University of Hawaii at Manoa , and a bachelor's degree from California State University, Long Beach. She is a graduate of Maryknoll High School.