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Ohana Ho’opakele Press Release

Published by jalbertini on April 3rd, 2014 in Hawaii Independence, Public Events, Social Justice, Take Action!, Uncategorized.

Press Release: Stop Attempt by the State of Hawaii to bring the Prison-Industrial Complex to Hawaii

—–Original Message—–
From: Jim Albertini <ja@malu-aina.org>
To: William Cole <wcole@staradvertiser.com>; Dwight Kondo <lightonhawaii@yahoo.com>; Alan McNarie <amcnarie@yahoo.com>; Dave Corrigan <davecorrigan2002@yahoo.com>; david schlesinger <david@bigisland-bigisland.com>; Tiffiny <newswoman@me.com>; Yamada, Lara <lyamada@kitv.com>; Ian Lind <ilind@hawaii.rr.com>; Hollyn Johnson <hjohnson@hawaiitribune-herald.com>; David Bock <dbock@hawaiitribune-herald.com>; Joan Conrow <joanconrow@hawaiiantel.net>; kgmb tv9 <brenda_salgado@hotmail.com>; KBOO <pmnews@kboo.org>; ncook-lauer <ncook-lauer@westhawaiitoday.com>; Alan McNarie <amcnarie@yahoo.com>; aphonolulu <aphonolulu@ap.org>; Bob Nichols <bob.bobnichols@gmail.com>; news <news@hawaii247.com>; Ikaika Hussey <ikaikahussey@gmail.com>; Stephen Paulmier <stephen.paulmier@verizon.net>; Ian Lind <ilind@hawaii.rr.com>; Dave Smith <newsdesk@bigislandnow.com>; Yisa Var <editor@bigislandweekly.com>; sens <sens@capitol.hawaii.gov>; reps <reps@capitol.hawaii.gov>; Bobby Command <bcommand@co.hawaii.hi.us>; Brenda Ford <bford@co.hawaii.hi.us>; Charmaine Shigemura <cshigemura@co.hawaii.hi.us>; Dennis Onishi <donishi@co.hawaii.hi.us>; Zendo kern <zkern@co.hawaii.hi.us>; Val Poindexter <vpoindexter@co.hawaii.hi.us>; Mayor B. Kenoi <wkenoi@co.hawaii.hi.us>; jyoshimoto <jyoshimoto@co.hawaii.hi.us>; Dru Kanuha <dkanuha@co.hawaii.hi.us>; Greggor Ilagan <gilagan@co.hawaii.hi.us>; Karen Eoff <KEOFF@co.hawaii.hi.us>; Margaret Wille <mwille@co.hawaii.hi.us>; Mitchell Roth <mroth@co.hawaii.hi.us>; Cindy Evans <repevans@capitol.hawaii.gov>; Clifton Tsuji <reptsuji@capitol.hawaii.gov>; Faye Hanohano <rephanohano@capitol.hawaii.gov>; Gil Kahele <senkahele@capitol.hawaii.gov>; Josh Green <joshuaboothgreen@yahoo.com>; Mazie Hirono <info@mazieforhawaii.com>; Richard Onishi <reponishi@capitol.hawaii.gov>; Russell Ruderman <senruderman@capitol.hawaii.gov>; becivil <becivil@civilbeat.com>; srodrigues <srodrigues@olelo.org>; karin <karin@hawaii247.com>; news <news@hawaiinewsnow.com>; news <news@hawaiipublicradio.org>; citydesk <citydesk@staradvertiser.com>; tips <tips@hawaiireporter.com>; scoop <scoop@huffingtonpost.com>; kalamalama <kalamalama@hpu.edu>; kaleo <kaleo@kaleo.org>; email <email@pbshawaii.org>; news <news@khon2.com>; cparker <cparker@kitv.com>; lgeller <lgeller@igc.org>; production <production@ktuh.org>; thefner <thefner@midweek.com>; editor <editor@themolokaidispatch.com>; ddeponte <ddeponte@olelo.org>; pacific <pacific@bizjournals.com>; news <news@hawaiiindependent.net>
Cc: Palikapu Dedman <palikapud@gmail.com>; Ronsan2224 <Ronsan2224@aol.com>; Sam Kaleleiki <kupunasam@gmail.com>; Nohea Crutcher <luellacrutcher@yahoo.com>; Jim Albertini <ja@malu-aina.org>
Sent: Thu, Apr 3, 2014 2:21 pm
Subject: Press Release: Stop Attempt by the State of Hawaii to bring the Prison-Industrial Complex to Hawaii

Press Release: Stop Attempt by the State of Hawaii to bring the Prison-Industrial Complex to Hawaii
April 3, 2014

From Ohana Ho’opakele
www.ohanahoopakele.org
Further contact: Palikapu Dedman, president  959-4930
Palikapu Dedman <palikapud@gmail.com>
Ron Fujiyoshi, Treasurer 959-9775
“Ronsan2224@aol.com” <Ronsan2224@aol.com>
Stop Attempt by the State of Hawaii to bring the Prison-Industrial Complex to Hawaii
      “Ohana Ho’opakele president, Palikapu Dedman, said “Ohana Ho’opakele opposes any effort to expand the state’s prison system. This includes the current effort as stated in SCR 120 now before the legislature. SCR 120 is an attempt to bring the Prison-Industrial Complex to Hawaii to make money off the misery of Native Hawaiians who make up more than 60% of Hawaii’s prison population.”
      SCR 120 was recently passed out of the Senate Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs Committee, chaired by Will Espero. Community testimony was overwhelmingly opposed to SCR 120. As amended SCR now calls for a fast track for Requests for Proposals (RFP) to be put out for private prison contractors by May 31, 2014 and sets a deadline of Dec. 31, 2014 to select a private prison contractor..
      “Ohana Ho’opakele says prisons do not work. They are proven failures. In 1970 there were fewer than 1000 prisoners. Today there are nearly 6,000 prisoners, 4,000 of which are Hawaiians. It is time to begin reducing, not expanding, Hawaii’s prison populations by initiating Hawaiian traditional Pu’uhonua (Wellness Centers) on every island,” says Dedman. “Pu’uhonua are places of healing where the traditional ho’oponopono process of making right will be used to help heal individuals, families, and communities. Ohana Ho’opakele believes, and so do nearly 2000 supporters who have signed our KAHEA, that Pu’uhonua centers are for the good of all Hawaii’s people and can provide real hope in saving money, reducing recidivism, crime prevention, and long-term positive change,” says Dedman. According to Dedman, “private prisons are profit making corporations. There in the bed business. To them Hawaiians are commodities upon which to profit. Private prisons are not interested in reducing the number of people going to prison. They want full occupancy and expansion of prison. The more prisoners, the more they profit.”
      Dedman says “prisons are breeding grounds for crime and a burden on the taxpayers. $40,000 per head. It’s time we focus on positive solutions. Pu’uhonua and Ho’oponopono are traditional practices of restoring balance in individuals, our families, and communities. We need to once again restore this balance in the scales of justice. It’s time to let Hawaiians take care of ourselves. No More prisons – public or private. Defeat SCR 120 and any similar efforts. Pu’uhonua is the way to go.”
-pau-

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