WAILUKU » The 17-year-old girl, born to a drug-addicted mother, was a chronic runaway and a methamphetamine user living on the streets.

But then she entered the Ke Kama Pono program at a house in Honokaa on the Big Island.

Two years later, she is living independently and attending college.

“;Our purpose here is to try to divert kids from trouble who are on the edge and put them in a caring environment that will turn their life around,”; said Scott Ray, grants administrator with the state Department of Human Services. “;It's to prevent kids from going to prison.”;

Three years after starting operation, Ke Kama Pono or “;Children of Promise”; is expanding its facilities to Oahu, Maui and Kona on the Big Island, where it will be serving teenage boys experiencing similar problems, including truancy and running away from home.

Groundbreaking ceremonies were held on Maui and the Big Island on Tuesday.

Construction of the housing facilities is scheduled to be completed Feb. 19, with the program in operation by June.

The program, operated by Salvation Army Family Intervention Services and contracted by the state Human Services Department, has experienced a high success rate.

Of the 32 girls who have participated in the live-in group program, only three have failed to complete the program and gone on to become repeat offenders, state officials said.

Ray said the cost has been about $171 per day per bed in the eight-bed facility, less than half the cost of placing them at the state-run Hawaii Youth Correctional Center on Oahu, where youths are more likely to become repeat offenders once released.

Human Services Director Lillian Koller said Ke Kama Pono provides programs for changing the behavior of at-risk teenagers and helps them avoid incarceration at the youth correctional center.

“;It's important to provide these teenagers with a healthy environment,”; she said. “;We're so gratified by the support, especially the support of adjacent neighbors.”;

Koller said the program has received close to $3 million in building money, including $150,000 from the state and some $2.8 million in federal funds through the U.S. Justice Department.

She said 22 percent of the money for operating the program was coming from the federal government.

Ray said the program arose after Gov. Linda Lingle's visit several years ago to a correctional facility in Utah housing female teenagers from Hawaii and her desire to develop a facility to help girls stay out of trouble.

Ray said a significant number of teenagers are being held for minor infractions and don't belong at the Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility.

He said the development of facilities in different locales gives troubled neighbor-island teens the opportunity to stay in contact with their families and friends and helps them to return to their community.

Roxanne Costa, Ke Kama Pono director of operations, said the group home for teens has provided a safe place where youths can assess their lives, learn some life skills, and establish a plan for their life in a structured environment.

The teen girls awaken at 7 a.m. and make their beds, with one girl assigned to prepare breakfast for everyone.

The others are assigned chores throughout the property.

After breakfast, the staff accompanies the teenagers to appointments, including drug counseling in Hilo and Waimea.

Near noon, everyone returns to have lunch at the home, and after eating they attend school classes with a teacher until 4 p.m.

They return to the house for a snack before participating in group counseling for at least an hour, followed by individual counseling.

Then they have dinner, a shower, and may watch TV. Bedtime is at 10 p.m.

Costa said the girls also help in a community garden after school and sometimes on weekends, weeding, planting and harvesting crops.

The vegetables are used by the group and some are donated to the Salvation Army and senior centers.

The girls also wash windows and help clean facilities at senior centers.

“;We teach the kids, if you are going to belong to the community, it's not just taking. You have to give,”; Costa said.