Editorials
Thursday, October 10, 1996
Prison expansion plan is
a welcome reversal
HAVING criticized Governor Cayetano in the past for scrapping plans for prison construction, we applaud his belated decision to finally do something about Hawaii's overcrowded penal institutions. Cayetano announced that he would seek $10 million from the Legislature to build about 700 more prison beds, plus $8.1 million a year for operating expenses.This would be in addition, he said, to projects already under way to add 400 new beds.
The expansion would go a long way toward relieving the overcrowding that forced the administration to send 300 inmates to Texas and to release others prematurely. Cayetano said he'll keep costs down by using "no-frills" units, including tent-like structures. But will this work?
The administration's plans for additional prison beds are welcome, but it should be kept in mind that prisons are more than cells. Adequate staffing and facilities are also essential. Putting inmates behind bars satisfies the public's desire for punishment, but that is not enough.
Cayetano's plans to build a dormitory on the recreation field at the women's prison and two modules on the recreation field at the Oahu Community Correctional Center and to convert the gym at the Halawa Medium Security Facility into a cellblock should save money. But they are questionable because they may deny inmates opportunities for recreation, which is important to maintain morale and promote rehabilitation.
Prisoners should not be coddled, but harsh treatment can make them greater threats to public safety when they are released - and almost all of them eventually will be released. The administration must ensure that the expansion does not result in the loss of facilities for recreation and other services, including education, or if it does that the loss is temporary.
There is also a need for greater state investment in alternative programs for criminals who do not need to be incarcerated. These programs are much cheaper than locking people up and can be at least as effective.
It is unfortunate that Cayetano has not pursued the idea of letting private companies build and operate prisons, which is being done in several states and could save tax dollars here. But the governor has finally faced the reality that the state must act to relieve prison overcrowding by providing more space, which is much better than sending inmates to the mainland.
'Open skies' proposal
THE "open skies" aviation agreement proposed by the United States to Japan would benefit Hawaii, but chances that it will be implemented anytime soon are slim. The idea was advanced in a Sept. 25 letter from Transportation Secretary Federico Pena.
Under the proposal, all current restrictions on flights between the two countries would be abolished and the market would be allowed to dictate routes and frequencies. Hawaii has suffered under the current system because Japanese requests for additional routes to the islands have been held hostage by Washington in order to obtain leverage for requests by U.S. airlines. Although U.S. domestic aviation has been deregulated, in the international sphere regulation is still very much alive as governments persist in trying to protect their national airlines at the expense of the consumer. It would be overly optimistic to think that is going to change soon - although it would certainly be good for Hawaii.
'Double Ten'
THE Republic of China has particular reason to celebrate in marking its national day today. This year it conducted on Taiwan the first direct election of a Chinese head of state anywhere. It was a giant step in the establishment of democracy on Taiwan and an implicit rebuke to the Communist regime on the mainland, which remains mired in repression.
Hawaii has a strong link to Chinese history. Sun Yat-sen, the father of modern China, studied in Honolulu as a youth and organized a Chinese revolutionary society here. Sun's exposure to Western thinking while studying at Iolani and Punahou helped him formulate his ideas for the transformation of China. That link gives Hawaii particular reason to help celebrate this special "Double Ten" anniversary.
Published by Liberty Newspapers Limited Partnership
Rupert E. Phillips, CEO
John M. Flanagan, Editor & Publisher
David Shapiro, Managing Editor
Diane Yukihiro Chang, Senior Editor & Editorial Page Editor
Frank Bridgewater & Michael Rovner, Assistant Managing Editors
A.A. Smyser, Contributing Editor