Fasi should focus on Irish miracle, not Maui

As the Republican primary campaign gets under way, former Honolulu mayor Frank Fasi is attacking Linda Lingle and what many describe as the "Maui Miracle."

Instead of concentrating on the shortcomings of his fellow Republican, he should instead improve his own campaign.

Whether or not the "Maui Miracle" is real, a better example is the "Irish Miracle." The July 11 issue of the Star Bulletin showed that education is the key to long-term economic revitalization.

In the past ten years, the average price of a home has doubled in a period where the economy has experienced above-average growth, all while the consumer price index has risen only 23 percent.

This is the result of a renewed interest in the quality of education. In Ireland, from pre-school to graduate studies, education is at the most nominally priced.

At first it drained the best away from Ireland, but after a generation the investment produced a return. Corporations name the educated workforce as their top reason for locating in Ireland, with quality of life second and tax incentives third.

This can work in Hawai`i, too. Education is the only thing that will insure our long-term economic security. But do any forward-looking candidates realize it?