Once again, mathletes do public school proud

There’s much to love about the recently held state MATHCOUNTS competition. It puts a rightful spotlight on excellence in academics, as well as on all the "mathletes" who competed in teams and vied individually to be on Hawaii’s delegation to the 2015 MATHCOUNTS national competition in Boston in May. The elite four going are: Kent Kiyama, Kenso Kume and Haeri Kim, all of Washington Middle School; and Steven Doan, of Maui’s Seabury Hall.

The Washington Middle kids certainly did their school — and the public-education system — proud, making this the fifth year in a row for that winning school. What are the odds for next year? We wouldn’t know, but the kids surely will. Count on it.

An undeniable conflict for Tokuda

Let’s see: Chairperson of the state Senate money committee being paid as a consultant by the director of a fledgling institute that’ll need $10 million in state funds. That sure could be perceived as conflict of interest.

Sen. Jill Tokuda disclosed her tie to the Daniel K. Inouye Institute in financial filings, for "program development and execution." The privately funded contract ran from March to December 2014, and was to resume after this legislative session. Institute director Jennifer Sabas noted that "we’re not asking for any government funds for anything" currently and that Tokuda’s rise as money committee chairwoman was "the last thing we thought would happen" when the contract began last year. But now, Sabas said, it "may or may not make sense to continue."

Let’s help out here: It doesn’t, and it shouldn’t continue.