Hawaii's state legislators convene tomorrow for a regular session that demands seriousness of purpose, political courage and true leadership on the economic issues challenging our state and the social issues dividing it.

In this election year, lawmakers must never lose sight of this guiding principle: Seek always to serve the broadest constituency with the least amount of taxpayers' money.

For politicians used to micromanaging state departments' budgets to fund pet projects in their own districts, even if those projects are not those departments' highest priorities, that means taking a big step back and letting the people actually working in those departments decide how limited funding can do the most good.

For example, the Board of Education and the Department of Education for which it sets policy must be allowed to set the overall funding priorities for the public school system, even if their decisions - such as the probable reduction of school bus service - spark dismay and intensive lobbying at the Legislature by affected constituents.

Clearly lawmakers have a huge role to play in resolving one of the state's biggest problems: the Furlough Fridays that have left Hawaii's public schools with the shortest school year in the United States.

Rather than standing by and claiming they have no authority until Gov. Linda Lingle reaches a financial compromise with the education unions, key lawmakers should exercise their obvious influence with those unions to spur everyone to the table, then raid the rainy day fund as needed to get kids back in school. Now.

State representatives and senators should act with equal swiftness to approve the civil-unions measure left hanging from last session. That thousands of people would gather in opposition to the bill granting same-sex couples rights like those held by heterosexual married ones is no sign of a failed bill, but rather evidence that tolerance and social justice sadly is waning in a state once heralded for its progressive attitudes.

The bill offers a compromise that stops short of same-sex marriage and is similar to the legal recognition already bestowed in other states. Pass it quickly and move on; this issue will become a session-long distraction only if lawmakers allow it to.

As in many other U.S. states struggling through the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, Hawaii voters seem in no mood for political grandstanding and legislative inaction.

Perhaps no other politician has more immediately at stake this legislative session than Senate President Colleen Hanabusa, who hopes to replace Neil Abercrombie in the U.S. Congress.

The Waianae Democrat trails Ed Case in initial polls and will be continually in the sometimes harsh spotlight as lawmakers grapple with issue after contentious issue ahead of the special election to fill the departing Abercrombie's seat.

If that extra pressure compels Hanabusa to guide the Senate with intense efficiency and political courage, more than her own candidacy would benefit.