Excuses don’t improve highways

We’re No. 48!

Sadly, it’s Hawaii’s ranking out of 50 states and it pertains to our state roads.

The Aloha State ranked 48th out of 50 for the overall cost-effectiveness and performance of its state roadways, according to the Reason Foundation’s 2016 Annual Highway Report.

Using 2013 data, the report concluded the state spent about 2-1/2 times the national average in total costs per mile: $405,269. And yet the state’s roads are the worst in the nation for urban pavement conditions, the report said.

The state Department of Transportation says the road upkeep is a challenge in an island state, where material costs are higher. Still, surely, there must be ways to improve.

2 schools here stepping out

Kudos to all the public schools, their educators and their students, that are making strides in the learning environment.

Now, two of the state’s highest-performing elementary schools have earned extra kudos. Helemano Elementary in Wahiawa and Noelani Elementary in Manoa have been named among 329 National Blue Ribbon Schools for excellence.

Among Noelani’s achievements: in 2014-15, 82 percent of students tested proficient or higher in English, while 80 percent met or exceeded math standards. Among Helemano’s achievements: science proficiency among 80 percent of students, up 13 percent over the past four years, and cutting chronic absenteeism by half to 8 percent.

Well done, one and all.