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<br />WilOkabe <br />Managing Director <br />Harry Kim <br />Mayor <br />Barbara J. Kossow <br />Deputy Managing Director <br />County of Hawai‘i <br />Office of the Mayor <br />25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603 Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720 (808) 961-8211 Fax (808) 961-6553 <br />KONA: 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy., Bldg. C Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i 96740 <br />(808) 323-4444Fax (808) 323-4440 <br />March 31, 2017 <br />Senator Jill N. Tokuda, Chair <br />Committee on Ways and Means <br />Hawai'iState Capitol <br />Honolulu, HI 96813 <br />RE:HB 478 HD1, SD1 <br /> Relating to Public Safety <br />Thank you for this opportunity to support an agricultural program at the Kulani <br />Correctional Facility, part of HB 478. <br />Although Corrections is the kuleana of the State, I have long believed that the <br />County should take an active interest in the treatment of, and opportunities afforded to, <br />individuals who have been incarcerated. For that reason, in my first term as Mayor, I <br />recruited State and community partners and established the Going Home program, <br />which continues to operate informally today. <br />It is in everyone’s interest that inmates, who are returning to their communities <br />after serving their time, are as well prepared aspossible to be productive members of <br />society. The kind of training that a robust agricultural program could provide at Kulani <br />would seem to be a perfect fit. <br />I encourage passage of HB 478 with adequate funding to give the program a <br />chance to prove its value. <br />Respectfully submitted, <br />Harry Kim <br />Mayor <br />County of Hawai‘i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. <br />