The correction of a technical glitch has boosted Honolulu's national "kid-friendly" rating into the top 20, according to the environmental organization that puts out the survey. Honolulu’s kid-friendly
rating jumps with data fixZero Population Growth released last month the results of a survey listing Honolulu as the 32nd most kid-friendly out of 140 cities and an A-minus grade.
Honolulu faired well in most categories, including the unemployment rate, the environment and parks-to-people ratio.
It got a C, however, in public safety where the report said violent crimes and property crimes per 1,000 in Honolulu both were higher than the national average.
But Honolulu Police Department personnel who saw the story in the Star-Bulletin did their own sleuth work and discovered that Zero Population Growth used the wrong population figure in calculating their crime figure, according to Brandon Stone, HPD management analyst.
HPD officials brought the error to the attention of Zero Population Growth, which then recalculated their numbers.
The city's public-safety grade jumped to an A.
Its overall ranking went to 16 from 32.
Stone said the organization's organizers were "apologetic."
Library bucks: The Board of Education gave state Librarian Virginia Lowell a raise Thursday. Her annual salary was boosted to $108,483 from $85,302, a $23,181 raise retroactive to July 1.
Board members voted unanimously for the raise, but one member expressed concern over the timing.
"I cannot argue against the recommendation to give the state librarian a big contract," board member Winston Sakurai said. "I think she deserves one. It's just sad that we have a teachers' contract and we haven't been able to give them their pay increases thus far."
The state Legislature had given the board discretion to increase the state librarian's salary up to $120,000.
It was the first increase in 10 years for the position.
Lowell said although she appreciated the financial benefit she gained, it was the Legislature's giving the board the power to hire, evaluate and compensate the state librarian that she really appreciates.
Public Libraries Committee Chairman Donna Ikeda said that by approving the salary increase, it would allow the board to be competitive with similar-size states when filling the position in the future.
The conch is optional: Republican state Rep. Jim Rath may not strike you as someone who would be in the Olympics, but he is hoping he will be carrying the torch.
Rath (R, Kohala-Kona) says he has been selected as a potential torchbearer for the 2002 Salt Lake Olympic relay.
The relay starts Dec. 4 in Atlanta and goes across the United States for 65 days with some 11,500 torchbearers carrying the flame to open the winter games in Salt Lake. Rath said he is honored to be selected, but added that he may not be able to help out if the run takes place while he is serving in the Legislature.
Abreast of Med Quest: Legislators will hold a briefing tomorrow to follow up a state audit of the state Med Quest Division.
House Human Services and Housing Chairman Michael Kahikina (D, Nanakuli) said Hawaii receives federal matching dollars to run these health insurance programs, and it must ensure there is accountability.
Officials from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services are expected in Hawaii next week for a review, he said.
"The auditor's report raised some important questions, and I believe it's the Legislature's duty to ask those questions first," Kahikina said.
The briefing is at 1 p.m. in Capitol Room 329.
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