New warden named for Kaua‘i Community Correctional Center

The Hawai‘i Department of Public Safety announced Friday that Kaua‘i Community Correctional Center in Līhuʻe has a new warden.

Jerry Jona, who has been employed at the correctional center since 1999, will become the facility’s next chief administrator effective Jan. 3, 2023. Jona has been the acting warden at the jail since Neal Wagatsuma retired from the post in December 2021. He started his career as a social working at Kaua‘i Community Correctional Center, or KCCC, before being promoted to corrections supervisor.

“Warden Jona brings decades of experience and knowledge to KCCC and has, over the years, developed community partnerships that benefit the incarcerated population and their successful reintegration back into the community,” said Public Safety Department Director Tommy Johnson in a press release.

Jona joins a group of four new wardens who will take over the reins at several of the state’s correctional centers in the new year.

Shannon Cluney was named the new warden for Halawa Correctional Facility on O’ahu. Ione “Noni” Guillonta will lead the Women’s Community Correctional Center in in Kailua, O’ahu, while Liane Endo will take the helm at Maui Community Correctional Center in Wailuku, Maui.

“These individuals come with many years of experience, in-depth knowledge and dedication within the correctional field,” said Deputy Director for Corrections Michael Hoffman in the press release. “We are excited and honored to have these outstanding civil servants on board and to be a part of our corrections administrative team.”

Hoffman’s comments were echoed by Johnson, who also praised the selectees’ diverse backgrounds and well-honed correctional and managerial skills.

The Public Safety Department thanks those who stepped in as acting wardens to lead the facilities during the recruitment process to find a new warden at each of the facilities.