Are new political lines suspicious?

The state Reapportionment Commission says computers crunched the numbers and directed where the lines should be redrawn in the revision of Hawaii’s political map.

While that’s certain to be true — trying to deal with this otherwise might make human heads explode — Republicans can be forgiven for raising an eyebrow, wondering if it was all a partisan plot.

Two of the eight GOP House members will have to do battle with another incumbent to keep their seats, if the proposed map is approved.

Not that approval is a slam-dunk. The new districting plan is based on population numbers that include nonresident military — something that neighbor islanders in particular have opposed.

Still, Republicans can’t be happy to see one-quarter of their already tiny House caucus in jeopardy.

Meanwhile, the lone Republican in the Senate might well be breathing a sigh of relief to see his district untouched.

Change takes hold at public schools

I think I can, I think I can …

The power of positive thinking certainly helped the Little Engine That Could, and it seems to have worked wonders for the 72 percent of Hawaii’s elementary schools that have lengthened their daily teaching time despite the state’s tight finances and other naysaying difficulties.

State law requires a minimum instructional time, and now schools — especially those at the secondary level — are struggling mightily to comply. So far, due to creative thinking and doing by school administrators down to campus rank and file, it’s proving to be do-able.

I thought I could, I thought I could …