Almost half of all visiting days at the medium security section of Halawa Correctional Facility have been canceled during the past three months, and prison officials acknowledge "there is a problem" with corrections officers who aren't showing up for work as scheduled.

Weekend and holiday visits were canceled five times in September, four times in October and four times in November in a pattern that has been frustrating to inmates and family members who are trying to maintain ties with one another.

Cancellations have been a longstanding complaint by inmates and their families, and prison officials acknowledged about one in five visits had been canceled in the first half of this year.

Now, the problem seems to have gotten worse.

The father of one inmate said he has been trying to get into the prison each weekend to see his son to help to mentally prepare the inmate for his upcoming release, but repeatedly has been frustrated when visits are canceled.

"It's become like a joke," said the parent, who spoke on condition that he and his son not be identified. The father said he feared there would be retaliation against his son if it was known his family had complained about the cancellations.

The father described "heartbreaking" scenes at the prison when family members, including small children, are turned away.

"With us going, it kind of keeps them informed with what's going on at home with the family, and it's support, for his mind," the father said. "I see it when we go to visit, he's happier, he can tolerate a little bit more what's happening in there."

In an e-mailed response to questions, state Department of Public Safety Director Clayton Frank confirmed that 13 visiting days out of the past 27 were canceled, and said that "we are working collaboratively with the United Public Workers union to try to address staff attendance. The administration continues to work with the wardens to ensure that visits can be held."

"We're experiencing officers calling in sick, and when that happens while other staff are on vacation and/or medical leave, the facility has no choice but to position officers only in the essential posts and therefore, visits cannot be conducted," Frank wrote. "Still, we continue to encourage visits and believe they are important, however we must always remember that safety must come first."

Asked if the absences by corrections officers imply abuse of sick leave, Frank replied: "What we're experiencing is a higher number of employees calling in sick. However, for it to be labeled abuse, the department would've had to have completed an investigation and determined that there was proof that employees were abusing sick leave."

Frank said the prison is not short-staffed. The problem is that employees are not showing up for their scheduled shifts.

Prison officials have said it takes about five extra corrections officers to run visits. The Halawa medium security facility holds about 990 male inmates.

Kat Brady, coordinator for the Community Alliance on Prisons, said regular family visits are one of the things that actually helps to reduce recidivism. Criminologists agree that maintaining family ties helps inmates to succeed on parole.

"Visitation is something that all the research shows has really helped people re-enter, and re-enter successfully," she said "So, what are we doing? Half the visits are canceled out of the last 27? That's ridiculous. No, it's actually shameful."

Brady said the problem of canceled visits has lingered for years, and officials with the department have told her there is nothing they can do. She suggested the prison system ask for help from retired police officers.

"There's a huge law enforcement retiree community. Why aren't we tapping into that? Ask people to volunteer. There are things they could do if they really, really wanted to have visits," she said. "They need to figure out a way to make it happen."

Senate Public Safety Committee Chairman Will Espero said that "it does appear there are some personnel issues that Department of Public Safety must work out with the unions."

"Visitation is important for inmates because it allows them to keep in touch with their family members and children, and it is a part of the rehabilitative process, so when these visitations are canceled, I'm certain it does have effect not only on the inmates but the family members as well," Espero said.