Commentary from Senator Sakamoto

July 26, 2006

Expanding Hawaii's Prison Facilities

Gov. Linda Lingle recently announced that she has all but abandoned the idea of building a new prison facility, claiming that no community stepped forward offering a site for the new facility.1

http://starbulletin.com/2006/07/14/news/story01.html
http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2006/Jul/15/ln/FP607150325.html

In 2003, the Hawaii State Legislature passed House Bill 298, which directs the executive branch to develop the undeveloped portion of the Halawa correctional facility's site in order to alleviate the severe overcrowding of Hawaii's prisons. It is unfortunate that Governor Lingle vetoed the bill. Other proposals have been forwarded to look at redevelopment of the Oahu Community Correctional Center site in Kalihi. Several years later, the problem of overcrowded prisons is still with us and the only solution Governor Lingle has to offer is to ship the prisoners to the Mainland. The problem is a serious one that requires strong leadership, rather than complaining that no one has stepped forward offering a site for the new facility. The State of Hawaii has the resources and property to deal with the problem; what it's lacking is the vision and commitment to facilitating a solution to this human and economic drain.

1 Richard Borreca, "Lingle ends push for new prisons," Honolulu Star-Bulletin, July 14, 2006; Kevin Dayton, "New prison for Islands unlikely," Honolulu Advertiser, July 15, 2006.

2 Kevin Dayton, "New prison for Islands unlikely," Honolulu Advertiser, July 15, 2006.