HONOLULU -- Hawaii U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie said there is federal stimulus money that could help with the crisis over the 17 furlough Fridays this public school year.

He said he met with state Senate leaders Monday at the state Capitol.

There is $35 million in federal stimulus money that is to be used primarily for educational purposes, Abercrombie said.

"I got together with the secretary of education and we did, we found the money. It's at the discretion of the governor," Abercrombie said.

There has been no word from Gov. Linda Lingle's office on using stimulus funds.

Hawaii's economic crisis has made national headlines.

An editorial in this weekend's New York Times said Hawaii has sacrificed its own school children and that the teachers' union, the school board, the Education Department and Lingle share responsibility for the debacle.