A husband and wife will each spend a year in jail for what prosecutors describe as perpetuating a house of torture for five children.

 

Waianae Couple Sentenced In Abuse Case

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The couple was sentenced for their roles in the abuse of five children at their home.

 

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  The children—the wife's cousins, of whom the couple had legal custody—said they were hit on their heads and bodies with metal spoons, a metal bat and cans; starved for days at a time; forced to hit each other; and had a firecracker taped to a hand, which was then lit.

Gabriel Kalama, 31, pleaded no contest to two counts of second-degree assault and five counts abuse of a family or household member. Barbara Kalama, 29, pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of a minor and six counts of abuse of a family or household member.

Circuit Judge Virginia Crandall sentenced each of them yesterday to five years' probation; and as a condition of probation, each must serve one year in jail.

Because the Kalamas have five children of their own, Crandall staggered their jail terms to keep the family intact. Barbara Kalama started serving her jail term immediately. Gabriel Kalama will serve his after his wife completes hers.

The five children abused by the couple and Barbara Kalama's mother, Rita Makekau, are Barbara's first cousins. Crandall sentenced Makekau, 52, to five years in prison Friday.

The three must make restitution of $25,385 to the state for psychiatric counseling for the children.

The three boys and two girls were ages 7 to 14 when the state discovered the abuse in 2005, by which time it had been going on for four years, said Lori Wada, deputy prosecutor. Four of the children were in the courtroom yesterday.

“;I want to tell my cousins that I'm sorry. I'm sorry I that couldn't love you how I should have. I cannot make excuses for my actions, but I want you to know that I'm sorry and I love every one of you,”; Barbara Kalama said.

Gabriel Kalama also tearfully apologized to the children.

“;I love you, and you're in my prayers every day. And I ask you to forgive me. I'm sorry I couldn't be the father role model that you wanted me to be,”; he said.

Their lawyers said the couple has since taken steps to prevent a recurrence of abuse, especially with their own children. They have taken classes in parenting, anger management, domestic violence, marriage counseling and family therapy.

They had each agreed to testify against Makekau, Wada said.

Gabriel Kalama said he and his wife were unprepared for the children. They were in their 20s with three children of their own.

“;The CPS (Child Protective Services) told us that one of us had to be working, and we never had no services. And we was unaware of the past abuse that they had,”; he said. “;And we had no one to run to because we was young. And that's what led to this.”;

Barbara Kalama's lawyer said her client did not stop her mother from abusing the children because she had been abused herself and was afraid of her mother.

Jenna Oda, a distant relative and one of the children's new caregivers, said when they arrived, they expressed themselves through violence.

“;They can be a handful, but no one can expect an angel after all they went through,”; she said.