Judge presents valid challenge to lawmakers

As the first judge to run Hawai‘i’s Drug Court, James Aiona Jr. has seen it all.

In his address to lawmakers assembled at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace Thursday for the traditional Catholic Red Mass, he challenged them to Hawai‘i’s young people — before they become a lost generation.

He described angry, defiant youngsters involved in drugs and prostitution, for whom society’s best answer to date is to lock them up.

"Locking these minors up is simply unacceptable," he said — yet that approach will continue without a strong initiative from lawmakers. Are they were listening?

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