DUKE AIONA – GOVERNOR, STATE OF HAWAI`I

The Governor sets the direction for the well-being and is responsible

and accountable to the People of the State of Hawai`i.

The leadership of the Governor is to be measured, in major, by the

ability to move the State of Hawai`i forward.

Timidity, being influenced personal beliefs and past precedent is

good.

THE GOVERNOR IS THE WARRIOR FOR THE PEOPLE.

The Governor is required to assess the current and to take bold,

measured and knowledge-based, well-researched actions for the

People and for the State of Hawai`i to move the State of Hawaii

forward towards a brighter future, to make the State of Hawai`i the

best place in the world to live, work, play and raise families.

The article from the Hawai`i Free Press, September 15, 2014, is an

astute insight of the candidates for Governor on the Hawai`i General

Election Ballot.

Aiona is Only Candidate Supporting Private Preschool

CB: Come November, voters will decide whether to change Hawaii’s

constitution and allow the state to spend public money on private

preschool programs.

The amendment is key to establishing an early education system in

Hawaii, say supporters, including Republican gubernatorial

candidate DUKE AIONA.

They believe it could expand access to preschool for thousands of 4-

year-olds who miss out because their families can’t afford it. Hawaii

is currently the only state that constitutionally prohibits public

funding of private preschools.

But the Hawaii State Teachers Association and other critics question

the prospect of doling out taxpayer money to private providers,

including those with religious affiliations. Opponents include

Democratic gubernatorial candidate DAVID IGE, who believes the

proposal is ill-conceived and could lead to wasteful spending.

MUFI HANNEMANN, the Hawaii Independent Party candidate for

governor, supports the concept but questions its feasibility, and says

he needs more clarity as to how a public-private system could be

implemented.... “

[Emphasis Supplied]

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT QUESTION– NOVEMBER 2014

SENATE BILL NO. 1084

The bill proposes an amendment to Article X, Section 1, of the

Hawai`i State Constitution to permit the appropriation of public

funds for private early childhood education programs to help the

State meet its goal of providing an early learning system for the

children of Hawai`i. Specifically,

“Shall the appropriation of public funds be permitted for the support

or benefit of private early childhood education programs that shall

not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, sex or ancestry, as

provided by law?”

Duke Aiona is firmly in favor of the Constitutional Amendment to

Article X, Section 1, of the Hawai`i State Constitution to permit the

appropriation of public funds for private early childhood education.

Duke Aiona’s position is firmly grounded on legal precedent.

Specifically,

ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINION NO. 03-1. School Vouchers,

issued, February 7, 2003.

“In Zelman v. Simmons-Harris, -- U.S. --, 122 S. Ct. 2460

(2002), the U.S. Supreme Court held that the Ohio school voucher

program did not violate the Establishment Clause of the U.S.

Constitution, which prevents a state from enacting laws to advance

or inhibit religion. Zelman is inapposite in Hawaii because a Hawaii

school voucher program would be precluded under Art. X, section 1,

of the Hawaii Constitution and not the Establishment Clause of the

U.S. Constitution. Considering the Hawaii Supreme Court’s previous

interpretation of Art. X, section 1, in Spears v. Honda, 51 Haw. 1, 449

P.2d 130 (1968), which addressed the constitutionality of a statute

requiring state subsidized bus transportation for all school children,

including sectarian and private school students, a school voucher

program would violate the Hawaii Constitution.”

[Emphasis Supplied]

Source: State of Hawai`i Legislative Reference Bureau.

Sandra Day O’Conner, Justice, United States Supreme Court:

"We have time and again held that the government generally may not

treat people differently based on the God or gods they worship, or do

not worship." Board of Ed. of Kiryas Joel Village School Dist. v.

Grumet, 512 U. S. 687, 714 (1994) (O'CONNOR, J., concurring in part

and concurring in judgment).”

“This insistence on government neutrality toward religion explains

why we have held that schools may not discriminate against religious

groups by denying them equal access to facilities that the schools

make available to all. See Lamb's Chapel v. Center Moriches Union

Free School Dist., 508 U. S. 384 (1993); Widmar v. Vincent, 454 U. S.

263 (1981). Withholding access would leave an impermissible

perception that religious activities are disfavored: "[T]he message is

one of neutrality rather than endorsement; if a State refused to let

religious groups use facilities open to others, then it would

demonstrate not neutrality but hostility toward religion." Board of

Ed. of Westside Community Schools (Dist. 66) v. Mergens, 496 U. S.

226, 248 (1990) (plurality opinion). "The Religion Clauses prohibit the

government from favoring religion, but they provide no warrant for

discriminating against religion." Kiryas Joel, supra, at 717

(O'CONNOR, J.). Neutrality, in both form and effect, is one hallmark

of the Establishment Clause.”

Rosenberger v. Rector and Visitors of University of Virginia. 515 U.S.

819 at 846 (1995).

The appropriation of public funds for private early childhood

education is not precluded by the United States Constitution.

The appropriation of public funds for private early childhood

education is precluded by Article X, Section 1 of the Hawai`i

Constitution.

The Constitutional Amendment to permit the appropriation of public

funds for private early childhood education programs to help the

State meet its goal of providing an early learning system for the

children of Hawai`i on the November General Election Ballot is

required.

Remember,

NO KEIKI LEFT BEHIND

NO VOTE

NO GRUMBLE