Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona is asking representatives of the parties involved in Hawaii's controversial teacher furlough program to meet with him immediately to work out a settlement.

Aiona on Monday sent letters asking for the meeting to state Schools Superintendent Patricia Hamamoto, Board of Education chairman Garrett Toguchi and Hawaii State Teachers Association President Wil Okabe.

Aiona is acting governor while Gov. Linda Lingle continues her economic and trade mission in China this week.

He says he wants to pursue possible amendments to a new teacher contract that would allow pay cuts or a shifting of some furlough days to existing non-instructional days.

The contract now requires 17 furlough days this school year, of which three have passed.