Public input sought on preferred site for new Kauaʻi Community Correctional Center

Hawaiʻi Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation seeks community input about the preferred site selected for the future Kauaʻi Community Correctional Center.

The request follows information presented during a recent symposium on the Garden Isle.

“Pathways for Reentry from Incarceration: A Community Symposium for the Future of the Kauaʻi Community Correctional Center” on Jan. 25 brought together Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation officials, stakeholders and community members to discuss rehabilitation efforts for inmates and explore potential locations for a new Kauaʻi jail.

Land off Māʻalo Road in Līhuʻe, owned by Grove Farm, was identified by the state as the preferred site.

The location offers about 20 to 30 acres of usable land, access to infrastructure and proximity to critical support services, including Kaulu I Ka Pono Academy, a treatment and education facility for at-risk youth.

“We want to ensure that this facility is designed to provide a rehabilitative and secure environment for inmates while also addressing community concerns,” said Corrections and Rehabilitation Department Director Tommy Johnson. “Community input is critical as we move forward in evaluating this potential site.”

The existing jail was built in 1977 in a flood-prone area in Līhuʻe, adjacent to Kūhiō Highway. It has endured flooding as well as infrastructure limitations for decades.

What’s more, planned expansion of Kūhiō Highway by the Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation would further impact the current jail site, necessitating the move.

Hawaiʻi lawmakers allocated $20 million for the relocation and redevelopment of Kauaʻi Community Correctional Center.

The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation launched a website to keep the public informed and gather feedback about the relocation project.

Community members are encouraged to review project details and share their input on the proposed Māʻalo Road site.