Fact: Hawaii’s public school teachers are the lowest paid in the nation (factoring in the cost of living).

Fact: Hawaii is the only state in the country whose public schools not receive any dedicated funding from property taxes.

Correlation or just a coincidence?

Opponents can use their slick advertising to deflect attention from these two facts, but the glaring truth is that Hawaii’s public schools remain woefully underfunded.

And despite the political rhetoric to the contrary that goes on every year, especially during election years, the numbers don’t lie: Our political leaders have never made our public schools a spending priority.

It’s time to change that by passing the constitutional amendment on Nov. 6.

Matt Nakamura

Hawaii Kai

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