HONOLULU -- Hundreds of people flooded the state Capitol on Friday for a "Stop Furlough Fridays" rally against closing public schools.

Organizers hoped a huge turnout would send a message to the governor, Legislature and public worker unions to find a better solution.

Many parents were stunned to hear the school year would be cut by 17 days as a way to deal with the state's budget crisis.

Lingle was candid when asked about if she regretted allowing the contracts to include the loss of so many school days.

"I rarely second guess myself, but on this one I certainly did," Lingle said. "I assumed that they would do what was in the best interest of the students, and I don't think they did. I don't think their decision was in the best interest of the students. I think it was in the best interest of getting the contract resolved and we were all focused on that, myself included. But looking back, I think it would have been better to stand up and say, 'Well, we just can't settle it this way.' But I did make that decision for them and the University of Hawaii," Lingle said.

The governor did point out that schools have the option to change some of the furlough days to teacher instructional days and waiver days to try and preserve class time. (Read more about changing furlough days.)

A leadership group from the rally met with Lingle in her office during the rally.

Parents, students and even Ben Vereen, who is in town for a performance this weekend, took the stage to blast the cuts in instructional days.

First the Hawaii State Teachers Association accepted the plan, followed by Hawaii Government Employees Association, which represents school administrators and office workers.

Families scrambled to find childcare as parents from schools across Oahu started banding together for a united response. Volunteers urged people at the Capitol to sign a petition the group planned to present to Lingle.

Hundreds of children carried or wore signs decrying the cuts in education.

Friday's rally ran from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and featured entertainment by Jack Johnson.

Parents and children of Noelani Elementary School in Manoa got ready for Friday's rally by holding a mini rally of their own in the morning. About 100 people were there. Parents, community leaders, and local politicians spoke while kids made post cards and posters.

Most agreed that the state is in a tough financial position.

"But we can't believe that the best solution to the state's budget crisis is the throw 171,000 kids out of school and short change our future," Noelani Elementary School parent Robert Perkinson said.

The crowd actually applauded when one politician suggested raising taxes to keep schools open. After the rally, the group boarded buses and headed to the state Capitol.