Family Rights and Advocacy in Hawaii

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Internal links (5): Hawaii inmate search, send money to Hawaii inmates, Hawaii reentry resources, Staying Connected hub, how prison works hub

Voice: Formerly-incarcerated narrator. Plain, direct, honest. Written to the family member on the outside.

META BLOCK:

Family Rights and Advocacy in Hawaii | InmateAid

Hawaii shares the defining crisis of Alaska in this series: chronic prison overcrowding has forced the state to house hundreds of incarcerated people in mainland facilities, primarily in Arizona through CoreCivic. For a family in Honolulu, a loved one in Arizona is not inconvenient. It is a 5-hour flight. A round-trip plane ticket that costs more than some families make in a month. A barrier to visits that is not about rules -- it is about money and distance.

One child's account, collected in a Hawaii state report: "I think the hardest part was him being so far away. With Hawaii's overflowing prisons, we send a lot of our prisoners to Arizona, which was where my dad was. I didn't have the opportunity to have in-person visits with him until I exited care."

If your loved one is in an Arizona facility under Hawaii's contract, this article covers both situations -- what applies to them in Arizona and what applies back here at home.

Hawaii's corrections agency is now the **Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DCR)** -- formerly the Department of Public Safety (PSD). Director's office: **(808) 587-1288** | dcr.hawaii.gov.

Hawaii's phone system uses **GTL/ViaPath (ConnectNetwork)** statewide. Set up an AdvancePay account by calling **1-877-650-4249** or through ConnectNetwork online.

Hawaii has an independent **Correctional System Oversight Commission (HCSOC)** -- created by the state legislature in 2019, it is the external oversight body for DCR. hcsoc.hawaii.gov. This is where families can submit public testimony and concerns about systemic issues.

Native Hawaiians represent approximately 20% of Hawaii's general population and approximately 40% or more of those incarcerated. That disparity is the context for every advocacy organization named in this article.

What Families Are Facing in Hawaii

Hawaii's correctional facilities are spread across four islands:

**Oahu (most facilities)**

- **Oahu Community Correctional Center (OCCC)** -- urban Honolulu; largest facility; houses both pretrial and sentenced; 16 acres

- **Halawa Correctional Facility** -- Aiea, Oahu; medium/maximum security

- **Waiawa Correctional Facility** -- Pearl City, Oahu; minimum security; work release

- **Women's Community Correctional Center (WCCC)** -- Kailua, Oahu; primary women's facility; currently under major construction (new administration, housing, visitation/intake buildings)

**Neighbor Islands**

- **Kulani Correctional Facility** -- Big Island (Hawaii County); minimum security; remote

- **Maui Community Correctional Center** -- Wailuku, Maui

- **Kauai Community Correctional Center** -- Lihue, Kauai

**Arizona (out-of-state overflow)**

- CoreCivic facilities in Arizona house Hawaii overflow prisoners. If your loved one is there, they are subject to CoreCivic's policies, not Hawaii DCR policies. Contact Hawaii DCR at (808) 587-1288 to confirm status and available contact options. Inter-island and mainland flights make in-person visits expensive for all Hawaii families -- the neighbor island facilities are already a plane ride from Oahu for many families.

On phone: GTL/ViaPath is the statewide vendor for all Hawaii DCR facilities (since February 2018). Tablets with GTL access deployed since September 2021. Set up a ConnectNetwork account at 1-877-650-4249. Post-FCC rate caps (April 2026) apply to interstate calls.

On money: electronic deposits through GTL/ViaPath ConnectNetwork. Only approved visitors can make electronic trust fund deposits. Confirm you are on the approved visitor list before attempting to send money electronically.

On mail: Hawaii DCR has not announced a system-wide digital mail scanning transition. Physical mail to facility addresses appears to be the standard. Confirm current policy with the specific facility.

Note on WCCC: the Women's Community Correctional Center in Kailua is undergoing major construction. Confirm current visitation logistics and any temporary changes through dcr.hawaii.gov before visiting.

Your Rights as a Family Member in Hawaii

Visitation rights

Each facility manages its own visitation schedule and procedures. The OCCC visitation schedule and guidelines were updated January 31, 2025 -- check dcr.hawaii.gov/about/divisions/corrections/occc/ for current procedures before visiting.

Visitors must be on the approved visitor list. Background checks are required for visitor approval. Dress codes apply at all facilities.

For neighbor island facilities: verify schedules directly with each facility. Family members on Oahu visiting someone at Kulani on the Big Island or at Maui's facility face inter-island travel costs in addition to the time burden.

For WCCC: confirm current visitation access given the ongoing construction. Contact the facility directly through dcr.hawaii.gov.

Communication rights

Your loved one must add your number to their approved contact list through GTL/ViaPath. Set up a ConnectNetwork AdvancePay account at 1-877-650-4249 before calls begin. Tablets are deployed statewide and allow video visits through GTL.

For loved ones in Arizona (CoreCivic): contact CoreCivic directly for the specific facility's communication options. CoreCivic may use different vendors or platforms than GTL.

All calls are recorded except legal calls to attorneys.

Notification rights

DCR is not required to notify family of transfers, including out-of-state transfers to Arizona. Use the Hawaii DCR offender search at dcr.hawaii.gov or call (808) 587-1288 to confirm current location. DCR notifies next of kin for serious medical emergencies and deaths. Make sure your loved one has designated you as next of kin in their DCR records.

Grievance rights

Internal DCR grievances must be filed by the incarcerated person. Family members cannot file internal grievances on their loved one's behalf.

External pathways for families:

- **DCR Director's Office: (808) 587-1288 | dcr.office.of.the.director@hawaii.gov**

- **Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission (HCSOC): hcsoc.hawaii.gov** -- the independent legislative oversight body; accepts public testimony and community input

- **ACLU of Hawaii**: acluhi.org -- for rights violations and civil rights issues

- **Community Alliance on Prisons (CAP)**: active community advocacy organization

- Your Hawaii state legislators at capitol.hawaii.gov

Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission (HCSOC)

The Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission is the most important external oversight body for Hawaii's prison system.

Website: hcsoc.hawaii.gov

**What HCSOC is**: A five-member independent commission created by the Hawaii Legislature in 2019. It holds public meetings and has independent authority to review DCR operations, conditions, and policies.

**Why it matters for families**: HCSOC accepts public input and testimony. If your loved one is experiencing conditions or treatment that violate their rights, submitting testimony to the HCSOC is a direct way to put that information in front of the independent oversight body. HCSOC has written letters to the DCR director about specific conditions issues and has coordinated with the ACLU of Hawaii and Community Alliance on Prisons.

HCSOC public meetings are listed at hcsoc.hawaii.gov. Written submissions can also be sent through the website.

This is one of the few states in the series with a legislature-created independent oversight commission for corrections -- use it.

Hawaii Family Advocacy Organizations

Going Home Hawaii

goinghomehawaii.org

Going Home Hawaii brings together community partners, families, service providers, and systems of care to support people returning from incarceration. They explicitly recognize the overrepresentation of Native Hawaiians in the criminal justice system and the deep generational impact on families and communities.

What Going Home Hawaii does: advocacy and care coordination, career pathways and employment support, mentorship, employer recognition, and community organizing. They work with families both before and after a loved one's release.

For families who are preparing for a release -- whether from a Hawaii facility or from an Arizona facility -- Going Home Hawaii is the primary reentry and family reconnection organization in the state.

Community Alliance on Prisons (CAP)

Named in HCSOC documents as submitting community advocacy memos and coordinating with HCSOC on corrections oversight. CAP organizes community members around prison reform and conditions in Hawaii. Contact through hcsoc.hawaii.gov communications or cap.hawaii.org (verify current URL).

ACLU of Hawaii

acluhi.org

P.O. Box 3410, Honolulu, HI 96801

Phone: 808-522-5900

The ACLU of Hawaii is active on prisoner rights issues and has submitted letters to HCSOC on conditions and oversight matters. They do not take individual grievance cases routinely. Contact them when the issue involves a pattern of rights violations, unconstitutional conditions, or retaliation.

Families Against Mandatory Minimums (FAMM)

famm.org

National network including Hawaii families. For families with loved ones serving excessive mandatory minimum sentences.

The Out-of-State Arizona Situation: What Families Need to Know

If your loved one is in a CoreCivic facility in Arizona under Hawaii's contract, here is the practical reality:

**You are dealing with two systems.** Hawaii DCR is responsible for the contract and the decision to house your loved one in Arizona. CoreCivic operates the facility and sets the on-the-ground policies.

**Visits require travel.** There is no practical way to visit someone in Arizona from Hawaii without flying to the mainland. A round-trip flight from Honolulu to Phoenix is thousands of dollars for a family. The HCSOC has raised the issue of out-of-state housing as a barrier to family connection and rehabilitation.

**Contact DCR first.** Call (808) 587-1288 or email dcr.office.of.the.director@hawaii.gov to confirm where your loved one is and what communication options are available. DCR should be able to provide the specific CoreCivic facility contact information.

**Contact the CoreCivic facility directly** for their specific visitation scheduling, mail policies, and communication platform. CoreCivic may use Securus rather than GTL.

**Contact HCSOC.** If your loved one was transferred to Arizona and you believe it was arbitrary, not based on security classification, or you want to advocate for their return to Hawaii, submit testimony to the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission at hcsoc.hawaii.gov. Legislative pressure on out-of-state transfers is an ongoing advocacy issue in Hawaii.

**Contact your Hawaii state legislators.** The out-of-state transfer issue is a legislative matter -- Hawaii's Legislature created HCSOC precisely because of concerns about prison overcrowding and its effects. Your state senator and representative can apply oversight pressure. Find them at capitol.hawaii.gov.

Prisoner Rights Organizations Families Can Contact on Their Loved One's Behalf

ACLU of Hawaii

acluhi.org | 808-522-5900

Primary prisoner rights legal organization in Hawaii. Handles civil rights cases including conditions of confinement. Has submitted letters to HCSOC on oversight and rights issues. Does not take individual grievance cases routinely.

Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission

hcsoc.hawaii.gov

For systemic issues affecting many people in Hawaii's facilities: submit public testimony or written comments to HCSOC. Their letters to the DCR director and their public meetings create a documented record of community concerns.

Legal Aid Society of Hawaii (LASH)

legalaidhawaii.org

Phone: 808-536-4302

LASH provides free civil legal services to income-eligible Hawaiians. While not a prisoner rights litigator, LASH can assist with civil matters related to incarceration and may provide referrals to appropriate legal resources.

Human Rights Defense Center (HRDC)

humanrightsdefensecenter.org

Phone (for family members): 561-360-2523

HRDC advocates on phone costs, publications access, and government accountability in prison systems. If GTL's rates or practices are causing problems for your family, HRDC has expertise in this area. Family members can contact directly.

How to File a Complaint on Your Loved One's Behalf

Step 1: Document everything specific

Date, facility, staff name if known, what happened. For out-of-state transfers: document when the transfer happened, whether notification was given, and what impact it has had on family contact.

Step 2: DCR Director's Office

(808) 587-1288 | dcr.office.of.the.director@hawaii.gov | 1177 Alakea Street, Honolulu, HI 96813.

This is the administrative contact for issues that cannot be resolved at the facility level.

Step 3: DCR Internal Affairs Office

Through dcr.hawaii.gov/frequently-called-numbers/ for internal misconduct issues.

Step 4: Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission

hcsoc.hawaii.gov. Submit written testimony or public comment. HCSOC has independent authority and communicates directly with the DCR director. This is the most impactful external channel for systemic concerns.

Step 5: Contact your Hawaii state legislators

Find at capitol.hawaii.gov. The Legislature created HCSOC and has jurisdiction over DCR's budget. For out-of-state transfers specifically, legislators have been engaged on this issue.

Step 6: Contact advocacy organizations

ACLU of Hawaii (808-522-5900), Community Alliance on Prisons, or Going Home Hawaii for guidance.

Step 7: Federal escalation

For civil rights violations: U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division (justice.gov/crt). For federal facilities in Hawaii: BOP Western Region. For CoreCivic Arizona facilities housing Hawaii prisoners: DOJ oversight extends to conditions in private facilities under contract with state agencies.

What families cannot compel: You cannot file an internal DCR grievance for your loved one. You cannot compel a transfer from Arizona back to Hawaii. External organizations can advocate and document but cannot guarantee outcomes.

Staying Connected: The Practical Guide for Hawaii Families

Phone and tablets

GTL/ViaPath (ConnectNetwork) is the statewide vendor for all Hawaii DCR facilities (since February 2018). Tablets with GTL access have been deployed since September 2021.

Set up a ConnectNetwork AdvancePay account: call **1-877-650-4249** or set up online at ConnectNetwork. Post-FCC rate caps (April 2026) apply to interstate calls.

For loved ones in Arizona CoreCivic facilities: confirm the phone vendor directly with the Arizona facility -- it may be Securus rather than GTL.

All calls are recorded except legal calls to attorneys.

Mail

Physical mail to the facility appears to be the standard for Hawaii DCR. Confirm current policy and mailing address with the specific facility through dcr.hawaii.gov before sending.

For Arizona CoreCivic facilities: mail policies differ; contact the CoreCivic facility directly for current mail procedures.

Sending money

Electronic deposits through GTL/ViaPath ConnectNetwork. **You must be on the approved visitor list before making electronic trust fund deposits.** 1-877-650-4249 or through ConnectNetwork online. Deposits typically transmit within 1-2 business days; weekends, holidays, or verification holds can add extra time.

Video visits

GTL tablets allow video visit calls. Confirm scheduling through ConnectNetwork or directly with the facility.

Visiting

Contact the specific facility for current visiting schedules and procedures. Check dcr.hawaii.gov for facility-specific information. For WCCC (Kailua): confirm current visiting access given ongoing construction before traveling.

OCCC (Honolulu) visitation schedule and guidelines updated January 31, 2025 at dcr.hawaii.gov/about/divisions/corrections/occc/.

Locating your loved one

DCR Director's Office: (808) 587-1288

DCR website: dcr.hawaii.gov

InmateAid Hawaii inmate search: [internal link]

Supporting Yourself While Supporting Them

Hawaii's prison advocacy community is smaller than the mainland average, but it has real infrastructure: an independent legislative Oversight Commission, the ACLU of Hawaii, Community Alliance on Prisons, and Going Home Hawaii. What it lacks is geographic reach -- supporting a loved one in Arizona from Hawaii, or supporting someone on the Big Island from Oahu, costs money that families often do not have.

Going Home Hawaii (goinghomehawaii.org) is the most accessible community organization for Hawaii families. If your loved one is approaching release -- from Hawaii or from Arizona -- they are the contact for reentry coordination.

The HCSOC public meetings at hcsoc.hawaii.gov give families a voice in the official oversight process. If you have concerns about conditions, transfers, or policy, submitting written testimony to HCSOC puts those concerns on the record before an independent body that communicates directly with DCR leadership.

Worth Rises (worthrises.org) tracks GTL/ViaPath's costs and contract arrangements nationally. If Hawaii's GTL costs are excessive relative to FCC caps, Worth Rises is the organization documenting it.

The Native Hawaiian overrepresentation in Hawaii's prisons -- roughly double the general population share -- is a community-level crisis that advocates including Going Home Hawaii and CAP are working to address. If your family is Native Hawaiian and you are navigating this system, those organizations are built with your community in mind.