Hilo meeting to discuss rehabilitation facility

By Hugh Clark
Advertiser Big Island Bureau

HILO, Hawai'i — Two community groups are meeting with state Public Safety Director Ted Sakai today to discuss a proposal for a prison and drug rehabilitation facility near the Hilo airport.

Maranatha Corrections of Bakersfield, Calif., seeks to build a facility for up to 1,000 inmates on about 30 acres of Hawaiian Homes lands. The company wants a 20-year contract that could cost the state a total of $600 million.

Sakai has said that Gov. Ben Cayetano has stopped pushing for a traditional prison and now favors a rehabilitation center in order to reduce the number of repeat offenders.

Officials with the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands have indicated they do not want a traditional prison built on the Hilo property, but would consider a rehabilitation center. They said such a project also would provide jobs in the community and lease revenue for the agency.

Maranatha proposes providing drug treatment, health and nutrition education, spiritual and anger management counseling, and vocational training.

The Keaukaha and Pana'ewa community groups are sponsoring the meeting from 9 a.m. to noon today at the Keaukaha School cafeteria. The two groups are led by Sam Kaleleiki of 'Ohana Ho'opakele, who said many people are suspicious of the Maranatha proposal, which he characterized as "a prison in disguise."

Kaleleiki and other Hawaiians favor programs based on more traditional methods of "restorative justice."