Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 23, Number 6, 1 June 2007 — Cultural rehabilitation [ARTICLE]

Cultural rehabilitation

In late April, the state Senate passed a resolution calling for the creation of a task force to determine the feasibility of developing a statewide healing program for ex-offenders and parolees that uses Native Hawaiian practices such as ho'oponopono. According to a press release from State Sen. Will Espero, "S.R. 118 will help Native Hawaiian ex-offenders heeome integrated into society through re-acquaintance with their rich heritage [...] The statewide program would use cultural traditions and healing practices to help this group develop a eonnection with the community, a sense of identity and a purpose in life." The resolution notes that 44 percent of female offenders and 37 percent of male offenders are Native Hawaiian. The idea for the rehabilitation

program is based on a successful program called Girl's Court, in whieh female juvenile offenders learned about Kaho'olawe's history and cultural significance, and participated in restoration projects on the former military bombing site. The task force will include representatives fromthe Kaho 'olawe Island Reserve Commission, the state Department of Puhlie Safety, the state Department of Human Services and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, according to the resolution. The Senate is asking to receive a report on the task force's recommendations by the start of the 2008 legislative session.