KITV News — State downsizes proposed Oʻahu jail, but advocates say that doesn’t address the root of the problem

HI downsizes Oʻahu jail plan but builds expansion capacity. We need real systemic reforms—like diversion and housing—not shifted incarceration.

October 22, 2026

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HONOLULU (Island News) — Hawaiʻi is scaling back its plan for a new Oʻahu jail.

“We decided to reduce the facility from 1,000 beds to 800 beds. I want to make it clear we’re putting in the infrastructure for 1,000 beds, meaning the water and sewer capacity and electricity capacity, in case we have to add on later on,” said Tommy Johnson, Director of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

But advocates said a smaller facility doesn’t necessarily mean fewer people behind bars

Yes, it decreases the size of the actual facility, but it just shifts people to a different facility,

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said Mandy Fernandes, the Policy Director at ACLU of Hawaiʻi.

The plan drops a proposed 300-bed transition center in Halawa.

Instead, the state plans to double capacity at the Laumaka Work Furlough Center in Kalihi, and is negotiating to increase leased federal detention center beds from 100 to 300.

But the ACLU said the plan doesn’t address the root of the problem.

The current plan does not leave room for any sort of key reforms that would reduce the incarcerated population,

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said Fernandes.

“Building a new prison is not going to fix homelessness or mental illness. It’s diversion, reentry programs, housing will help people. And these are systemic problems that the state needs to deal with,” said Lorenn Walker, the Executive Director of Hawai’i Friends of Restorative Justice.

The state said Oʻahu’s existing jail is aging and costly to maintain.

“People don’t realize that parts of OCCC were actually built over 112 years ago… so a new facility built more efficiently and designed more efficiently. You don’t need as much staff because you take advantage of the design and the technologies that are available to reduce the operating cost of a city,” said Johnson.

Oʻahu Community Correctional Center currently holds about 950 people, despite being designed for around 700.

But advocates said the money could go toward keeping people out of jail in the first place.

We looked at solutions like investing in reentry infrastructure and diversion, community-based mental health treatment and services, rehabilitation, youth development, social services, workforce development,

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said Fernandes.

Their argument — address the problems that lead to incarceration, not just where people are housed.

We’re not dealing with the systemic issues that created overcrowding in the first place. And systemic problems require systemic solutions

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said Fernandes.

It’s a complex issue, and officials said there’s not just one solution.

It will take many departments working together to address the larger issues.