Isles charter schools get a welcome infusion

An infusion of federal funds rightly brings preschool to Hawaii charter schools, which deserve the same sort of options available to regular public schools.

The multi-year grant will launch preschool programs for low-income children at charter schools statewide over the next few years, starting with four charter schools on Hawaii island for the 2015-16 school year.

The strategic move will brings vital programs to areas that have a lot of needy kids and not very many pre-kindergarten options.

Police actions come with a price

The agreement by the Honolulu City Council on Wednesday to pay $250,000 to an alleged victim of police abuse is lamentable. The city settled the lawsuit — over a 2007 traffic arrest in which a man claimed excessive force — that was remanded by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals back to U.S. District Court, whose earlier ruling had found in favor of the two officers involved. But conflicting testimony apparently muddied the case — so rather than risk losing at retrial, the Council cut the city’s losses. Still, it’s unsettling not knowing if our police officers overstepped — and that we’re $250,000 poorer for that inconclusion.