3 inmates caught escaping from Big Isle prison camp

Advertiser Staff

HILO, Hawai'i — Three inmates from the minimum-security Kulani Correctional Facility escaped briefly yesterday morning, but were caught about 12 miles from the honor camp.

Big Island police said Shane Honoli'i Salis, 24, Pisaga Saau Jr., 29, and Joseph Felix Ravey, 33, were discovered missing at a 6:30 a.m. head count. All three were found five minutes later by a corrections officer who was driving to work and spotted the escapees near the intersection of Stainback Highway and North Kulani Road.

The three were then detained by staff that were headed to work at the facility, including five corrections officers, two workline supervisors and a facility nurse.

The three escapees were charged with second-degree escape and taken to the Hawai'i Community Correctional Center in Hilo.

A spokesman for the state Department of Public Safety said Salis is serving time for terroristic threatening and burglary. Saau and Ravey are parole violators. Ravey would have been eligible for parole again next month.

Prison staff believe that the three escaped from a back window of the dormitory.