Auwe Kulani
Public officials, is there any way to restore Kulani Correctional Facility?
Lingle said it wasn’t “cost-efficient”. But is it “cost-efficient” to treat former inmates in less effective programs? Axe local jobs? And compromise care for our irreplaceable Kulani forest?
I hand-delivered disturbing reports to Rick Campbell, director of Honolulu Youth Challenge Academy (YCA), last month, and asked for comments. A student at an Alabama YCA alleges he was raped by another student, but YCA refused to give the police information, saying staff worked for a private corporation. A student at a Louisana YCA alleged having temporary kidney failure after being confined with limited fluids. And a student at a New Mexico YCA accused a mentor of sexual advances. Campbell hasn’t responded.
Over one in five students nationwide fails to complete YCA—even though YCA studies cherry-picked programs with less staff turnover and more applicants to select from. Many differences found between YCA graduates and other youth after 21 months were smaller than differences at nine months. YCA also admits that after non-YCA youth have time to earn diplomas or GEDs, YCA graduates might no longer rate better at finishing high school. And the YCA website notes “All programDirectors [sic] reported difficulties in identifying placement activities for 16-year-olds who completed the Residential Phase with a GED.”
About one in five YCA graduates joins the military—but a survey found only about one in 12 Hawai’i high school seniors plans to join. A new military recruiting station opened adjacent to the Honolulu YCA last year. But YCA downplays any recruiting motives.
An audit of the abrupt land transfer for YCA won’t be complete till January. A contested case action by Community Alliance on Prisons is still in play. If the transfer is found to be illegal, will the fallout be “cost-efficient”?
Cory (Martha) Harden
PO Box 10265, Hilo, Hawai'i 96721
residence Mt. View
mh@interpac.net
808-968-8965
KU I KA PONO
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