LIHUE, Kauai — Wilcox Elementary School was Furlough Friday central for Kauai this morning with 36 children participating in the Kauai Academy of Creative Arts program here and another handful of children under the care of Kamaaina Kids.

The relatively low turnout is probably because most parents can’t afford another $25, said Millie Johnston, a retired psychologist who works for Kamaaina Kids.
A third proposed program at the school offered by the Boys and Girls Club of Kauai apparently didn’t get enough registration to operate. Elsewhere on Kauai several groups were offering full- or partial-day childcare for parents.
Parents and grandparents dropping off their children at Wilcox Elementary were unanimous in condemning the state for what they said was balancing the state budget on the backs of the students. Both programs are charging $25 a day, but the arts program requires commitment to a full course of 10 furlough days, with a $250 payment.
“My son needs to work and his fiance needs to work, because they are buying a house,” said Elaine Kealoha, who brought her 5-year-old grandson Hunter Ahloo to the Kamaaina Kids program in the Wilcox cafeteria.
“They should cut anywhere but education,” said Kealoha, who will be keeping another grandson at home who is a special education student. “The kids love having a day off, but it’s not good for them.”
Kealoha said she mostly blames Gov. Linda Lingle for not making a better choice.
“Why do they cut from education? It just does not make sense,” said Nyree Norman, whose 7-year-old daughter Katy has developmental delays and needs the special education she receives at Koloa Elementary.
Instead, her day at Kamaaina Kids will include free play, craft projects, ABC and general knowledge educational games and a lesson about Hawaiian petroglyphs.
“I’m glad they could provide these programs on such short notice,” said Norman, who works for Kauai County. “But couldn’t we help the teachers and keep the schools open? It flabbergasts me.”
“It’s not fair to the kids to cut their school days,” parent Emily Thomas said as she dropped off her 6-year-old daughter Audrey for the Kauai Academy of Creative Arts program. “The state should have found the money someplace else.”
Parent Fran Grace is OK with raiding the hurricane fund, as proposed by Sen. Gary Hooser, D-Kauai and others.
“I think Furlough Fridays are really bad,” said Grace, who works only part time and has to pay for “rent, food and everything else.”
“If heaven forbid a hurricane comes, the federal government will come out and help us,” Grace said. “But if the state is not using federal money for educational programs, I heard the president is not going to help us balance our budget.”