The state is closing a prison facility that even prison reform advocates fought to keep open because it has programs that are much needed. Still others who have been working to create pu’uhonua (places of refuge) to treat nonviolent, drug addiction offenders in a Native Hawaiian cultural program requested to convert the Kulani prison into such a facility. But instead, the state will turn it into a factory to produce more military recruits, mining the poor and disenfranchised youth of our community. From one kind of institutionalization to another.
The state plans to allow the U.S. Department of Defense to begin using the 20-acre Kulani facility at the end of November, he said.
The goal is to turn the prison into a Hawai’i National Guard Youth Challenge Academy for teens ages 17 and 18 who are not going to graduate from high school, Maj. Gen. Robert Lee, the state’s adjutant general, announced in July.
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Last inmates leave Big Isle prison
Kulani’s closure left many unhappy, supervisor says
By Jason Armstrong
West Hawaii Today
Friday, September 18, 2009 8:46 AM HST
HILO, Hawai’i – The 63-year history of the Big Island’s only prison quietly ended last Thursday when the last 30 Kulani Correctional Facility inmates were transferred to O’ahu facilities.”They’re all settled in now,” said Tommy Johnson, deputy director of the state Department of Public Safety’s Corrections Division.
One of the men went to O’ahu Community Correctional Center, three others to Waiawa Correctional Facility and the remaining 26 to the Federal Detention Facility in Honolulu, he said.
None of Kulani’s 123 former inmates are being sent to Mainland prisons, he said.
“There’s room (in Hawai’i) because we’re using the FDC,” he said, referring to the Federal Detention Facility near Honolulu International Airport.
The Lingle administration in July announced the planned closure of Kulani to save money and help close a budget deficit.
Both the Kulani employees and prisoners are unhappy with the decision to close the facility, said Ikaika Dombrigues, a building maintenance supervisor who has worked at Kulani for 20 years.
“Their lives have just been crumbled,” he said of employees who will continue reporting to work for the near future.
Eventually, all Kulani employees will be reassigned to the Hawai’i Community Correctional Center, also known as the Hilo jail, although some employees have asked to be allowed to fill openings at prisons on other islands, Johnson said.
There are enough vacancies at Hawai’i’s jails and prisons to absorb the displaced Kulani workers, Johnson said.
The state plans to allow the U.S. Department of Defense to begin using the 20-acre Kulani facility at the end of November, he said.
The goal is to turn the prison into a Hawai’i National Guard Youth Challenge Academy for teens ages 17 and 18 who are not going to graduate from high school, Maj. Gen. Robert Lee, the state’s adjutant general, announced in July.
Closing Kulani will save an estimated $2.8 million a year, Public Safety Director Clayton Frank said in a July 24 press conference in Honolulu.
Source: http://www.westhawaiitoday.com/articles/2009/09/18/local/local04.txt
Illogical action against Hawai’is already “troubled” youth. Give US dignity to work with rather than cages to spoil in. . .
To ignore the potentially helpful work The Kulani Prisoners could be serving (not slaving) in OUR communities is beyond ignorant.
To eliminate neccessary jobs for Ohana’s struggling in this economy is not acceptable Governor.
Govern your people, protect the lands for them to perpetuate this culture!
Return THEIR jobs to monitor Prisoners who could be working the lands and serving purpose through sentence as rightful Kuleana.
Spending State monies to send away prisoners to other Island’s CF’s who could be supporting the States Defecit through PHYSICAL LABOR!
Eia Hawa’ii