Effort brings disclosures
of halfway house sites
Waianae High School teacher Beth Matsuda said she didn't like the idea of sex offenders living and being treated across from Kamaile Elementary School and watching students as they got out of school.
"That's like being a kid in a candy store, saying, 'What kind do you want?'" said Matsuda, 46, who has been teaching more than 20 years. "It's disgusting."
Three years ago, Matsuda discovered there were three halfway houses on Ala Akau Street located near Kamaile, Waianae High and Waianae Intermediate schools. The treatment homes were there without anyone in the community knowing about them before they moved in.
Matsuda wrote a letter to the Waianae Neighborhood Board, leading to a groundswell of support and a new law. Gov. Linda Lingle plans to sign Senate Bill 473, CD1 tomorrow or Tuesday, said Lingle spokesman Russell Pang.
The bill requires a public informational meeting before a county permit can be issued for a halfway house for people released from a prison or mental hospital or receiving substance abuse or sex offender treatment.
"The idea is not to stop them from having these homes available, but for the community to have a say," said Senate Judiciary Chairwoman Colleen Hanabusa (D, Waianae), one of the legislators who introduced the bill.
Halfway houses are defined as group living facilities to help drug users or criminals readjust to living in the community. Halfway houses are usually funded by private organizations.
After Waianae Neighborhood board member Frank Slocum received Matsuda's letter, he worked with Hanabusa's office to prepare the bill.
Slocum, 77, originally wanted the bill to prohibit halfway houses near schools, but fearing it wouldn't pass because of protests, he thought the community should at least know about people who could potentially live in their neighborhood.
The sex offenders have since been evicted from the homes because they violated the rule that a maximum of five unrelated people may live in residential areas, Slocum said.
Some argue that by requiring a public meeting, it would be more difficult to establish halfway houses. Claire Woods, chairwoman of the Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition, said halfway houses are "essential" and are the next step for people to regain their lives.
"They are quietly being good citizens and they don't have to announce their presence," Woods said. "Everyone should be equal."
The city Department of Planning and Permitting would have to take on the responsibility of holding public meetings, but isn't opposed to the bill, said Kathy Sokugawa, department official.
"It's like the state's way of telling us how to do our zoning code," said Sokugawa. "On the other hand, it already reflects what we're doing."
Planning and Permitting requires public meetings for homes with eight or more people currently in a group facility.
Hanabusa said the bill is a primary example of how concerned members can fight for their community, even if it takes years.
"The best kind of laws are the ones that was raised in the community," she said. "There's a concern and a support base for it."
Hanabusa credits Slocum and Matsuda for their persistence in seeing the bill through until the end.
"Mr. Slocum was absolutely relentless," she said.
But Slocum said Matsuda deserves the recognition.
"She is a fighter when she sees something wrong," he said. "She doesn't just sit back."
At Slocum's request, Hanabusa and the neighborhood board awarded Matsuda with certificates of appreciation at May's meeting, for caring for and protecting the Waianae community.
"I felt embarrassed," Matsuda said. "It wasn't anything special. I think other people would have spoken up if they knew."
Senate Bill 473, CD1
www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessioncurrent/bills/sb473_cd1.htm