Lawmaker presses
state on Kema

Newly approved rules would allow
release of some information
in Family Court cases

"Peter Boy" Kema Jr.: The youngster vanished in '97 after the state returned him to his family

State Rep. Dennis Arakaki says he is making progress in opening state Department of Human Services records about missing Big Island child "Peter Boy" Kema Jr.

Gov. Linda Lingle approved new administrative rules in December that allow the department to release information about Family Court cases under certain circumstances.

"We adopted this specifically to address, to clarify that it will give us the authority to share information with the public when a child is missing," said Amy Tsark, Child Welfare Services Branch administrator.

All other Family Court files remain confidential and the department would not be allowed to release information restricted by court order.

Peter Boy's case remains closed because the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled in 1999 that opening his files to the public was not in the best interest of Kema's siblings, whose cases are intertwined with Peter Boy's.

Tsark told the House Health and Human Services committees yesterday that the department has asked the state attorney general to determine what records are covered by the court ruling and what records are not.

Even though she was not able to reveal any information about Peter Boy's case that is not already public record, Arakaki said the department appears more willing to talk about the case than it was under the previous administration.

"This is the most that the department has said, (in) the eight years. Because all along they've said, 'Sorry, I can't talk about this,'" Arakaki (D, Alewa Heights-Fort Shafter) said.

Social workers took custody of Peter Boy twice in 1991 because of reports of abuse to him and his older half-siblings. The state returned Peter Boy to his parents in 1994 and closed the case under court order the following year.

In April 1997, the state received another report of abuse, but were unable to locate Peter Boy. A social worker persuaded the child's mother to file a missing person report in January 1998.

Peter Boy's father, Peter Kema Sr., told Hawaii County police that he took the child to Oahu and left him with a woman in Aala Park. Police were not able to locate the woman or confirm Kema's story.