Prisoners on Maui go from plate lunches to Dinty Moore

By Christie Wilson
Advertiser Neighbor Island Editor

WAILUKU, Maui — Talk about cruel and unusual punishment.

Two-scoops-rice plate lunches no longer are being served to prisoners at the Maui Police Department cellblock in Wailuku. Instead, microwaveable Dinty Moore entrées are on the menu.

Cost and convenience are the two main reasons for the switch, said Lt. Bobby Hill, who heads the Communications Section that oversees the suspects in custody.

The cellblock, with 10 cells of varying capacity, serves an average of 600 meals a month. The Dinty Moore meals, which do not require refrigeration, are half the price of takeout food and the department expects to save $18,000 a year, Hill said.

The microwaveable meals have been used since 1998 by the Hawai'i County Police Department and there have been few complaints, said Big Island police Maj. Ronald Naka-michi. Maui police are getting the product from the same Big Island supplier, T. Hara & Co.

Hill said he hasn't heard any grumbling so far. "They haven't complained, except no more rice," he said.

The food was taste-tested first by MPD employees, who gave the "Hearty Lasagna" a top rating of "four plastic spoons," Hill said. Other selections are salisbury steak, beef stew, turkey and mashed potatoes, chicken and roast beef.

Even if the price of plate lunches was more competitive, "we'd still have to send somebody down there to get the meals, and if they're busy, the prisoners have to wait," Hill said. "This is much more convenient and we don't have to tie up one of our officers."

The department had been getting plate lunches from Sheik's, a popular longtime Kahului restaurant, for more than than 20 years. "They were always good to us, getting food to us on weekends and holidays. It was a difficult decision for us, but if you're saving that much money, what are you going to do," Hill said.

Reach Christie Wilson at cwilson@honoluluadvertiser.com or (808) 244-4880.