Exactly. The idea that a special-interest group can exert so much influence over the process with such a small investment is disconcerting. This is doubly so given that the Chair of the Castle Foundation is the former Chair and current member of the Business Roundtable. This is the group that leveraged the current Superintendent into positions of leadership not only at the Department of Education but at the Board of Water Supply before that. Since the 1990s, the Roundtable has  exerted quiet but profound influence to attempt to re-shape institutions in ways that benefit their members.

It is a positive that segments of our community wish to support and encourage quality Education. It is concerning when they seek to take over the processes behind the operation of local government.

(To get an idea how this has worked in the past, think back to your Modern Hawaiian History class in high school and the part about "Interlocking Directorates" and control of policy and process.)