Posted at 11:03 a.m., Friday, January 4, 2002

Governor moves sex offender parole program

By Kevin Dayton
Advertiser Capitol Bureau Chief

Paroled sex offenders will report to their parole officers at a state office building in Kaka'ako makai under a plan announced by Gov. Ben Cayetano today.

The Hawaii Paroling Authority initially wanted the convicts to report to the authority's main office at 1177 Alakea St., but that plan triggered protests from area residents.

Under the plan announced this morning, the paroled sex offenders will report to the state office building at 919 Ala Moana Boulevard, which is near the The Ward Warehouse shopping center. The parole office is scheduled to move there Jan. 11.

The building already houses the central offices of the state Department of Public Safety, and Cayetano said the site makes sense.

"The Ala Moana Street location is a good solution in that it will not cost the state additional money nor is it adjacent to schools," he said.

Paroled sex offenders currently report to a Department of Public Safety facility on Waiakamilo Road, but the paroling authority plans to close that facility.

Critics of the Alakea Street site noted that building was within walking distance of St. Andrew's Priory School, Central Middle and Royal Elementary Schools, and Hawai'i Pacific University.