Federal and state legal challenges undoubtedly achieved a needed outcome for Hawaii’s keiki this week when a settlement was announced to raise the amount of the stipend paid to foster parents statewide.

The state had not increased the stipend in 24 years, which is appalling, considering how much the cost of everything has increased in that time. It wasn’t until a lawsuit was filed in 2013 that the state raised the stipend modestly. Under the settlement, the payments increase.

Not surprisingly, inadequate payments exacerbated a persistent shortage in the number of adults willing to serve.

There are poor caregivers in the system, to be sure. But the vast majority are doing a service that’s critically needed, and they should be able to cover their rising costs.

Privatization isn’t a walk in the park

November is still a couple of months away, but Maui Health, a subsidiary of Kaiser Permanente, has read the tea leaves and realizes the state’s effort to privatize the state-run Maui County medical facilities won’t be ready by then.

Finalized agreements with both the United Public Workers and Hawaii Government Employees Association were needed last week. With the missed deadline, Maui Health has positioned itself to take over Maui Memorial Medical Center, Kula Hospital & Clinic and Lanai Community Hospital July 1, 2017 — a year after the original takeover date.

No one ever said privatization would be a walk in the park, but did it need to take this long?