In an effort to alleviate some overcrowding at the Hawaii Community Correctional Center (HCCC), the Department of Public Safety (PSD), with the assistance of the Hawaii Army National Guard (HIARNG), transferred 40 sentenced felons from the Hilo jail and Kulani Correctional Facility (KCF) to the Halawa Correctional Facility (HCF) on Oahu. The HIARNG transported the inmates on two CH-47F helicopters earlier today without incident. Several adult corrections officers and deputy sheriffs provided in-flight and ground transport security.
“The Hawaii National Guard has worked with the Department of Public Safety throughout the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Maj. Gen. Ken S. Hara, Adjutant General, Hawaii National Guard. “This is an example of one state department successfully partnering with another. This transport mission is critical to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in Hawaii’s prison system.”
Of the 40 inmates who flew to Oahu, 20 were from HCCC and 20 were from KCF.
“Moving these sentenced felons helped to free up more space for the pre-trial custodies at HCCC,” said PSD Director Max Otani. “We couldn’t have done this without the coordination and collaborative relationship with our federal, executive and judicial partners.”
Tommy Johnson, Deputy Director for Corrections added, “The National Guard and PSD’s Deputy Sheriffs, along with ACOs and health care staff from OCCC, HCF, HCCC and the Kulani Correctional Facility all worked together to provide a successful and safe air and ground transport. I want to give a big Mahalo to everyone for all their hard work and for helping to expedite this necessary transport.”
Only inmates who have been vaccinated, and/or tested negative prior to transport, and deemed medically cleared to travel, were considered. Halawa placed the newly admitted inmates in an
intake quarantine, which is in line with PSD’s Pandemic Plan and based on DOH and CDC guidelines for correctional facilities.