Hawaiians imprisoned by a dysfunctional system

On May 1, the state Senate passed Senate Concurrent Resolution 120, SD2, "Requesting the Department of Public Safety to enter a public-private partnership for new correctional facilities." Introduced by Sens. Will Espero, Rosalyn Baker, Brickwood Galuteria and Sam Slom, this resolution is the first attempt to invite the so-called prison-industrial complex to Hawaii. The resolution earlier passed the House with only three dissenting votes.

Ohana Ho‘opakele does not believe the public supports this initiative. Why? Because it is a waste of taxpayers’ money by continuing to fund a prison system that is not working.

The budget of the Department for Public Safety for 2012 was $229 million; for 2013, it was $233 million; for 2014, $249 million. Averaged out for 6,000 paahao (those incarcerated), that equals $41,000 per paahao. The expense is going higher and higher, with no end in sight.

A solution is staring us in the face. In 2012 all legislators (except one senator) voted for House Bill 2848, HD3, SD2, CD1, which was signed by the governor into law on June 15, 2012, as Act 117. This act directed the Department of Public Safety to work together with Ohana Ho‘opakele and other restorative justice groups to plan for a puuhonua, or wellness center. The Department of Public Safety has not done this.

The prison system is a broken system operating on the misery of the Native Hawaiians.

Whereas the population of Native Hawaiians in the state is roughly 20 percent, state statistics show 41 percent of the incarcerated are Native Hawaiian. Dr. RaeDeen Keahiolalo-Karasuda’s Ph.D. thesis, "The Colonial Carceral and Prison Politics in Hawaii," claims that "it is more likely that Hawaiians represent more than 60 percent of the prison populations." This is an unacceptable violation of the civil rights of Native Hawaiians.

Even U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder is working to change the prison system on the federal level. On Aug. 12, as part of a "Smart on Crime: Reforming the Criminal Justice System for the 21st Century" report, Holder announced new policies on mandatory minimum sentences as a measure to reduce the prison population. Holder added that the U.S. is warehousing the most vulnerable members of our society.

The puuhonua is an answer to deal with the disproportionate number of Native Hawaiians in the prison system in Hawaii.

This resolution "smells" like the ill-fated Public Land Development Corp., but directed to one issue: that of building prisons. The public testified overwhelmingly against the PLDC in hearings on the various islands.

The Kulani site on Hawaii island is on "crown lands"; it is land belonging to the Hawaiian kingdom. It should never be used to make a profit for private corporations building something that violates the civil rights of Native Hawaiians. It should be used as a puuhonua to benefit Native Hawaiians.

How shameful for the legislators of the state of Hawaii to oppose the public and join with the state agencies in welcoming the prison-industrial complex to Hawaii.

Nine organizations and more than 75 individuals sent in testimony against this resolution in its various forms. Yet state legislators voted with the state agencies (and one individual) in supporting SCR 120.

Ohana Ho‘opakele applauds the three representatives who voted against the resolution: Reps. Mele Carroll, Faye Hanohano and Sharon Har. But why so few? The state has an obligation under the Hawaii State Constitution (Article 12, Section 7) to stand up for justice for Native Hawaiians. Puuhonua, not prisons for profit, is the step toward justice that needs to be taken now.

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ON VACATION: "On Politics" columnist Richard Borreca is off.