A group of about 50 parents and students with Save our Schools Hawaii were at the state Capitol this morning hoping to rally support from lawmakers to restore school days lost to furloughs.

The students knocked on doors, hoping to find legislators, though most were not in their offices since the Legislature is not in session. They also planned to stop by the governor’s office.
“They’re wondering why our government has allowed this to happen,” said Margaret Higa, a parent whose child attends Noelani Elementary School.
The BOE, teachers and Gov. Linda Lingle agreed in September to a new contract that included 17 furlough days, equal to a 7.9 percent pay cut. The furlough days are all scheduled for Fridays — today is the third of the 17 scheduled furlough days — and have reduced the number of instructional days to 163, the lowest in the nation.
The state House majority met in caucus yesterday to discuss options to eliminate some of the furlough Fridays. Rep. Roy Takumi, chairman of the House Education Committee, said there was no consensus to convene a special session of the state Legislature.