Voices shared in the Disparate Treatment of Native Hawaiians in the Criminal justice System report produced by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, 2010

Images taken at Makahiki programs in various correctional facilities, courtesy of State of Hawai’i Department of Public Safety

“Almost every Native Hawaiian has family who has been incarcerated.”

— Native Hawaiian käne, Community Advocate

“It’s hard to fathom in your mind what it’s like to be doing stagnant time, sitting on your bed for 24 hours, only standing to do head count. Unless they wear my shoes, they can’t really comprehend what it’s like, how it feels, then have an ACO degrade me, that’s not encouraging me to better myself, especially if I come from a very severe traumatic background in life. Then you feel like a dollar symbol with a revolving door back to prison.”

— Former Pa‘ahao, Wahine

“When we go out, we’re labeled as ex-convicts. We are not labeled as regular people in society. We are labeled as people coming from jail . . . there’s a lot of roadblocks for us.”

— Former Pa‘ahao, Käne

“I gave almost 20 years of my life to the State. I am afraid I am just going to come back into prison.”

— Former Pa‘ahao

“I could easily just fall right down. It’s like I am a tree-climber with no equipment sometimes. Every day is a struggle.”

— Former Pa‘ahao