What you should have done is stay positive in your support for public schools but leave out the BS racist & other attacks you made on private schools in an attempt to bolster your case.  Your opinion piece did just the opposite & reinforced to parents that if they can do so, they should send their kids to private schools in Hawaii.  My opinion is that parents should send their kids to private schools in Hawaii but if that is a financial hardship send their kids to public school until the 6th grade, then try to get them in from 7th grade on.  Honolulu magazine ranked Hawaii public schools & agree there are some terrific public elementary schools in Hawaii that would rival Punahou or Iolani.  HOWEVER, at the intermediate & high school levels are the most differentiation between private and public schools.  If you can ever take politics, greed & the unions out of the DOE, will be the day public schools will be on par with private schools (it was pre WW2).  Don't hold your breath for that.