Crowd When a handful of PTO moms started organizing this rally we thought there would be a hundred people and a megaphone. You proved us wrong. All parents and public school supporters needed was a catalyst. Thank you for an amazing show of support for our keiki's education. Special thanks are due to Jack Johnson and Ben Vereen for such inspirational performances and our terrific program of speakers and student performers. 
Sidewalk signs Because you decided to speak out on October 23rd the rally had an impact. Legislators attended and discussed their plans for a special session.  Governor Lingle received our petition delivery with an invitation to sit down and talk over the issue in her office.  The event was the lead on the TV news that night and both local papers the following day. An AP story on the furloughs and our protest ran in national newspapers including the New York Times. Neil
Abercrombie flew back from Washington to attend the event and his discussions with the Secretary of Education led to an Op-Ed by Arne Duncan supporting class time in the Honolulu Advertiser. Most moving of all were the images of our children raising their homemade signs and marching to ask for their class time back. Many volunteers worked very hard to make this event a reality. Thank you for your service to our kids. Our work is not done but this rally will remind us that real change is possible when we are willing to give our all for it.

You can view and download pictures from the rally at Kanu Hawaii's flickr page. Below are a few of them in a slideshow :

Here are videos of Jack Johnson and Kawika Kahiapo who sang three songs: