Probation officer Meagan Heffernan said the governor's plans to furlough state employees will place hardship on her family, especially since her husband, Jacob, also works for the state as a social worker.

“;It's been stressful when you don't know what's going to happen,”; said the 31-year-old Nuuanu resident. “;I already have to pay the higher medical insurance.”;

With four children, that is a strain, she said.

“;It's not about having sympathy for the affected families,”; she said. “;It's about being fair to the government workers. I feel we're being targeted.”;

Gov. Linda Lingle said yesterday many state workers will have their hours cut beginning in July and continuing for two years. The three-day-a-month furloughs will cost workers 13.8 percent of their pay.

Richard DePretto, a 62-year-old auditor, said the governor should look elsewhere to make up for lost tax revenues.

“;They have deputy directors—20 to 30 probably—making $80,000 to $90,000 in salary and benefits,”; he said. “;Their jobs are not actually needed.”;

Jennifer Shishido, a supervisor at the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, said pay is already low compared with other Western states.

“;A lot of them say if they're going to cut pay, they're going to quit,”; she said. “;They've already had offers but they like the state benefits. But if the benefits aren't there, who are we going to get to work for us?”;

Health coverage is a key issue, she said.

“;I just talked to a guy who's barely making it,”; Shishido said. Although he and his wife have health coverage, “;he can't afford to pay for his children.”;

If furloughs are instituted, “;he might not be able afford it for his wife,”; she said.

Erica Fontaine, 41, is concerned that her temporary position at the state Unemployment Office might be eliminated.

“;I don't want to be unemployed again,”; said Fontaine, who was laid off from an insurance agent's office and is now on her second 89-day hire.

Some workers are happy to have jobs at all.

Henry Hoeft, 41, an electrician in the private sector who was laid off in May, said his wife, a legal clerk for the attorney general's office, is “;more in favor of the furloughs than job losses.”;

“;We foresaw this,”; said the father of twin 12-year-olds. “;It wasn't hard to see the handwriting on the wall. It's one thing to expect it. It's another thing to go through it.”;

The Heffernans, meanwhile, plan to send their youngest child, a 3-year-old, to preschool in August at a cost of $680 a month. But their plans to send their eldest, 13, to private school are out.

“;We're going to have to redo our budget,”; Heffernan said.

“;This whole economic loss should be felt by everyone,”; she added, suggesting a raise in the general excise tax would be more equitable.