Report Title:

Kahi Mohala; Juvenile Sex Offender Treatment Facility

RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, since 1994, court orders have sent twenty-nine Hawaii children to mainland treatment programs for juvenile sex offenders, and ten have returned home after successful treatment; and

WHEREAS, as a result of the Felix Consent Decree, the federal court has expressed the importance of returning Hawaii youth back to Hawaii for treatment; and

WHEREAS, although a juvenile sex offender treatment facility was opened in December, 2000 on the Waimano Home campus, strong community opposition resulted in a site selection study for a new treatment site that was initiated in October, 2000; and

WHEREAS, after numerous evaluation criteria were considered, the top three sites were determined to be Kalaeloa, Kemo'o Farm, and Kahi Mohala; and

WHEREAS, Kalaeloa and Kemo'o Farm would both require additional funds and time for infrastructure development and facility construction, and, in addition, both sites face community opposition; and

WHEREAS, Kahi Mohala would provide prompt access to a wide range of treatment and services appropriate to a child's age and needs in the least restrictive environment; and

WHEREAS, Kahi Mohala would not require costly renovations or lease agreements, and, in fact, may result in lower costs; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2001, the Senate concurring, that the Legislature expresses support for the selection of Kahi Mohala as the most appropriate site for a new juvenile sex offender treatment facility and recommends that the juvenile sex offender treatment program currently located on the Waimano Home campus be transferred to Kahi Mohala to provide most appropriate treatment for the children the program serves; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, the Director of Health, and the Executive Director of Kahi Mohala.