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DEDICATION CEREMONY FOR NEW KAUMANA HOUSING UNIT AT HAWAIʻI COMMUNITY CORRECTIONAL CENTER

December 20, 2024
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HONOLULU — The Hawaiʻi Community Correctional Center (HCCC) celebrated the new Kaumana Housing Unit with a blessing and dedication ceremony Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024.


More than 50 people attended the event under an open canopy tent next to the new building. The new unit is on the corner of Komohana Street and Waiānuenue Avenue in Hilo.


Special guests included Director Tommy Johnson of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DCR), DCR Deputy Director Pamela Sturz of the Correctional Institutions Division, DCR Deputy Director Sanna Muñoz of the Rehabilitation Services and Programs Division, HCCC Warden Cramer Mahoe and DCR Institutions Division Administrator Michael Hoffman.


Honored guests and staunch supporters of the project who attended the event included Sen. Lorraine Inouye, Comptroller Keith Regan of the Department of Accounting and General Services (DAGS), Retired Third Circuit Judge Robert Kim, Third Circuit Court Judge Peter Kubota, Family Court Judge Darien Nagata, Chief Ben Moszkowicz of the Hawai‘i Police Department and Hawaiʻi County Prosecutor Kelden Waltjen.


Plans for the 48-bed medium-security housing unit began in 2017. Construction started in January 2022. The project cost is $19.8 million. DAGS awarded the project to contractor Nan, Inc.


The 10,550 square-foot building was designed with a rehabilitative environment that includes maximum use of daylight, viewing garden, an indoor/outdoor recreation yard and modern security systems. The facility aims to house inmates at the Kaumana Housing Unit in the coming months.


DCR Director Tommy Johnson thanked Governor Josh Green, M.D. and legislators for their support as well as DAGS and contractors. “This project was critically needed to address severe overcrowding that has plagued HCCC for decades,” Director Johnson said during the ceremony.


In addition to the new unit, HCCC recently completed renovations to its administration building to include an intake area, visitation room, records room and administrative offices.


HCCC Warden Cramer Mahoe echoed Johnson’s sentiment concerning the new housing unit. “This is a long time coming,” Mahoe said as he addressed attendees. “We are grateful for having such a building like this to help with easing some of the overcrowding.”


The total population is 304 inmates, as of Dec. 19, 2024. Currently, HCCC is approximately 135 percent over capacity. In addition to alleviating overcrowding, Mahoe said the new housing unit also has space for programs and training.


Sen. Lorraine Inouye, one of the event guest speakers, said, “This is one of the best Christmas presents. We can say that we finally got something that has been done to make sure that we address the needs for the (corrections) system.”


Like Inouye, Prosecutor Waltjen said the new Kaumana Housing Unit is “a large step in the right direction,” but more resources and services are still needed on the island such as a correctional facility in West Hawaiʻi.


“It’s important to prioritize investments into our correctional facilities, rehabilitation and services here on our island,” Waltjen said at the ceremony.


Visit the following link for photos and videos of Thursday’s dedication ceremony: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Ou2hJ37NjtUwSoK2_EPfM2Zc9b5FtnZC.

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Media Contact:
Rosemarie Bernardo
Public Information Officer
Hawai‘i Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
Office: 808-587-1358
Cell: 808-683-5507
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://dcr.hawaii.gov