by Andrew Walden

Criticizing Abercrombie's Board of Education, in his Action Plan David Ige writes, "Those closest to the students understand best how their students should be educated...."  Ige promises to "Appoint individuals to the Board of Education who have a stake in the system’s success, including those with children in public schools." 

But when Ige and his wife chose a school for their own children, they chose Punahou.  Their three children have now gone off to East Coast colleges, but "Senator David Ige and Mrs. Dawn Amano-Ige" are listed as Punahou "Current Parents for 2012-13." 

The Iges like Punahou so much that they even donated money.  The couple is listed among "Supporters ... who have included Punahou in their charitable giving...."    

The Punahou website points out: "With their financial contributions, parents of current students express their confidence in Punahou and provide their child the gift of an uncommon education."  But in an unbearably chirpy 12 minute campaign video featuring the Ige children, Punahou only pops up once--at the 4:50 mark. 

It would be easy to blame the Senator for being an elitist phony after a campaign in which he emphasized his roots at Pearl City High School, but the decision to go Punahou could have been made by his wife.  Like many private school parents, Mrs. Dawn Amano-Ige is a DoE Vice-Principal.

A year at Punahou costs $20,700.  4 years x 3 kids x $20,700 = $248,400. 

It certainly is good to know that DoE Vice-Principals make enough from the DoE to contribute money to Punahou.  Does this mean the Ige administration will break from the HSTA and propose a publicly funded voucher program so we can all give taxpayer money to private schools? 

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