Lt. Gov. James “Duke” Aiona called for a “comprehensive, independent” audit of the state Department of Education, and said if elected governor he would also make sure schools get 90 cents out of every dollar that goes to the DOE.

“It’s easier to build strong children than it is to fix a broken adult,” said Aiona, a Republican, at his campaign headquarters on Nimitz Highway today.

Aiona also outlined other areas of his education policy, saying he would:

>> Encourage principals to become the “chief education officers” of their schools and give them the ability to hire and fire teachers;

>> Oversee “effective restructuring” of the school system, after getting input from voters and educators;

>> And negotiate a new teacher evaluation system that “recognizes performance.”

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Neil Abercrombie talked about his plan for education in April, saying he would decentralize the state’s education system. Mayor Mufi Hannemann, also running for the Democratic nomination, has said the educational system does not need restructuring, but that he would work “collaboratively with the superintendent, whether the superintendent is appointed by the governor or by the Board of Education.”