Preschool study questionable

Even for those enthusiastic about early education, the potential return on more than $500,000 for a preschools rating system is at least open to question.

There is already some basic information on health and safety standards through the state’s licensing function. As for other elements of a preschool’s quality — class size, staffing credentials, programs — most parents unequipped with a ratings report have taken the time to check out the schools themselves, or they’ve gone with the testimonial of someone they trust.

Hawaii would be only the latest among 30 states with a ratings system, but the informed instinct of a responsible mom or dad can be a pretty good gauge, too. Could a few dozen states be wrong about this?

Will the thieves have bad luck?

It’s good to see that the old coral wall surrounding historic Kawaiaha‘o Church is finally being repaired after being hit by a city bus on April 2. It’s distressing, however, that some bits of it have been disappearing into private souvenir collections.

Most people may not be aware that both the wall and the church itself were constructed with the same hewn coral blocks. The coral slabs were quarried underwater from reefs and hauled ashore; each weighed more than a half ton. Workers had to dive to depths of 20 feet, chisel them out and load them into canoes. It took five years to build the church, using 14,000 blocks.

Knowing the history may not motivate the thieves to return the rocks, but maybe they will feel a little more guilty about it.