Photography by Baron Sekiya | Hawaii 24/7
This is a video of the entire meeting which was broadcast live by Hawaii 24/7.
MEDIA RELEASE
The second meeting with the public to discuss the reopening of Kulani Correctional Facility (KCF) was Thursday evening at the Keaau Community Center.
About 80 people were in attendance.
The discussion centered around the idea of incorporating a puuhonua-type program at KCF. Some Hawaiian groups would like to see the entire prison facility become a puuhonua.
Director Ted Sakai said although he supports creating a puuhonua program at the facility, a state prison may not be converted into a puuhonua.
He went on to let the various groups know he welcomes the continued partnerships as they work out ways to add programming to the facility that provides a link to the Hawaiian culture, values and history.
KCF was once a program intensive facility before it closed in 2009 and Sakai reassured everyone that it will be again.
The first priority is to open the facility. The programs will be worked out after that.
The next step will be to finalize the Environmental Assessment and begin the process of reopening KCF.
The Department of Defenses’ Youth Challenge program is currently housed at Kulani. PSD has been working with the DOD to ensure a smooth transition for the program and the youth into a new facility.
The DOD has said they plan to relocate as soon as 2014.
The goal is to reopen Kulani Correctional Facility no later than July 1, 2014.
This will help to move people around according to their custody level and open beds in state facilities, so officials can begin the process of bringing 200 inmates home from the mainland.
The complete presentation:
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