06-20-2009, 12:22 PM
The state DOE indeed sees the charter schools as the biggest threat yet to its oligopoly. Between their ill treatment and the County of Hawaii's foot dragging on some fairly simple zoning changes, it takes monumental effort and exceptionally good luck to have a successful charter school in Puna. At the most recent HPP Board meeting, we heard a report from HAAS on their proposal to open a branch in HPP. They are running into the usual obstructive attitude from the County and the DOE, but they are smart and determined, so they just might make it work.