My son is in OCCC facing 3 felony charges. He has a crystal meth drug problem. Last night he was offerred an opportunity to go into a place called Habilitatin Kaneohe. The guy from there who came to see him described it as a strict "boot camp" type program. I looked it up on the Internet at www.habilitat.com and they make no mention of the "boot camp", military type program. Actually it looks like a very good program. He would be there for a minimum of 2 years. I think the program described on the Internet would be perfect, but am wondering if anyone knows anything about this place? I am wondering if you are "confined" there or if you have freedom? Actually, in his case--at least at first, I worry about him having freedom until he has gone through some of the program.. I am afraid he may just walk away from it and go right back to drugs.

Any ideas?

Mom turned pessimist

Hey Jodi. I'm sorry, but I don't know much about Habilitat, except that it was around when I was in high school. Give them a call: 1-800-872-2525. Have a list of questions handy for them. I'm sure that they would be willing to speak to you.

Yes, I plan to call them on Monday. Apparently it was started by an addict from NY back in the 70's where he bought a little house and started doing rehab and it apparently has grown to a huge place now. It looks like it might a an answer, although I don't really know how all of this works. Apparently he has to plead guilty, and then he goes to this place for 2 years. I guess if he successfully completes their program, then he is probably on probably for XX? years, etc. Some of the programs that I have read about, if you successfully complete them, you end out without a felony on your record, but I don't know if this is one of those or not. All this is so new to me, but am "finding my way around". BTW, are you familiar with the Hawaii State Judiciary Ho'ohiki site http://hoohiki2.courts.state.hi.us/jud/Hoohiki/main.htm?spawn=1 ?? You can follow each court appearance, tell when (and who) an attorney is appointed, the judge, you can read the minutes of the hearings, etc. It is a wealth of information.

Thanks, Jodi for forwarding this information about the Hawaii State Judiciary Ho'ohiki website. I'm going to take that piece of your post and copy it over to our State Prison Profiles section for an FYI to others. Thanks for sharing this and good luck with getting your questions answered by the folks at Habilitat!

I know that this letter might verywell be late but I was member of Habilitat for 4 years. I knew the founders and staff. If I can be of any assistance to anyone about Habilitat please let me know..

Hi,
Thank you for your reply. Yes, I am still interested in some information about Habilitat. Unfortunately my son did not choose a drug program before sentencing so he is on 5 years probation and has been drug free for 5 months, but he still needs the drug program to understand why he takes drugs and keeps going back to them.

Did you go through their program and/or did you work there?

Would appreciate hearing as much information as you can give me on it.

Thanks!
Jodi

Could you please post the info you have so that others that may need it can read as well? Thanks so much!

Yes I've been there as a residant myself then became a staff. I went there in 2000 till 2004. For me I was in and out of the prison system. I was hooked on Ice BIG TIME!!! I never thought I would ever get off it. I'm 28 years old now thinking back when I first got on Ice @ age 15. I'm from Kaneohe and always heard about the program Habilitat and all it's war stories that cam with it. I was locked up in OCCC then got sent for an open 10 years in Halawa Prison for the crimes that I did due to my addiction to Meth. It was like a dead end when I went to prison, I had blown all my ties with my love ones. I also had three children at this time. The mother was just as bad as I was with the drugs etc. The state took them away and by this time we both were so messed up in the head even that did not stop us from smoking and living life on the edge. The drug is very EVIL and anyone who did it can and will agree with me. The law caught up with the both of us and we both went to prison. She got 8 years and I got 10. It was so bad that when we went to court the judge promised us that we would never get them back. I still remember the Judges name: Victoria Marks. I was crushed knowing this being that my head was a little more clear of what was going on being that I was already in prison (OCCC) When I went to Halawa I had lots of time to think as I accepted the sentance and rolled with punches knowing that I would be there for some time. While I was there I used my time reading books and staying far away from punks as much as I could. One day I say a friend of mine from long ago when he and i was in a drug program together at age 15. The program was in Hilo Hawaii called (Bi-sac) Yes!! I've graduated two other programs before graduating from Habilitat that makes it #3. Now back to this old friend. Anyways when I spoke to this guy he told me that he was back in for probation vilolation and that he had ran away from a program in Kaneohe called Habilitat. We always would talk about it every chance we had and thats when he told me that I should try it out and that they would be able to get me out of prison. A ight bulb came on and I said to myself "That's not a bad idea" " Besides if I don't like it I will escape" I will just use the program to my advantige" This is the way I thought and one day in my cell I wrote a letter to Habilitat. I still have the letter, it wrote: Dearest Habilitat staff. My name is Ryan ............ I'm 23 years old and a father of three. I have a drug problem and need your help. I'm in Halawa for a crime that I did and got an open 10 years. My children are all taken away from the state (CPS) and the mother is also locked up in a prison in Kailua. Please do whatever you can to help me......
Habilitat came and saw me about three days later. They did their magic and I found myself with the Habilitat staff back in court about a week after the visit in front of the judge pleading with her to let me go to their program. The judge then looked at my file and told me " Okay you want another rope" I'll give you a chance and give you a new sentance of two years with completion of the program, you must get your GED, and when released from the program you must complet 5 years probation. I took the offer and before you know it I was at Habilitat. It's was so amazing to me being from Kaneohe I've only seen the outside walls growing up. When I walked in the program I felt the love in the air and the vibe that this will be the hardest thing ever. Right away I could tell that this program was hard core and would weed everything bad out of me in time. It's hard to explain the program in detail but I can assure anyone that this program kept me clean till this day. The rewards were great. I've walked out of the program with new abilities I never knew i had. Till this day I am greatful and blessed to be a part of a story like this. Just to let you know and give you a true happy ending: The kids mom ended up going to a program and did well, got into Christ (GOD) and was blesssed with all the kids return back to her. She's now a reginal manager for all the outrigger hotels in Hawaii. She's married to a wonderful man who I became friends with. For me I got out of Habilitat and sold cars for the Tonygroup Autoplex. Did very well met a girl that was in the Navy, got Married and moved to Lexington, Kentucy selling cars there. We are better off living this life and I will used this pass life to help anyone who needs answers. I'm hoping to write a book one day that will be called "The great escap" cause I have beat the devil at a game that we once played. I hope this letter find anyone in the best of health.
P.S I went to the program to fake it and end-up making the best of it. I worked as a staff trainee after my two years there and stayed there another two years to help out others who was just like me.

Ry

My son is 19 and is in Habilitat. He is addicted to oxycodone. He loves Habilitat. He has found the structure and direction that his life was missing. I also know a girl from my town that is there. She is also glad to be there and wants to stay longer. Habilitat was there when our family had no where else to turn. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to turn there life around or any family that is at the end of their rope with an addict! Great place for stateside residents to go. It seperates them from all old influences.

Hey Jodie

I was a resident in Habilitat over 20 years ago. I highly recommend anybody with a substance or legal issue check into it. I am sitting here 23 years a qualified child worker in Canada, clean and sober for two decades and I have Habilitat to largely thank for that. When I was a resident there Vinnie Marino was the Director. For your son or anybody else reading this, if you get to Kanoehe theres a good chance you'll do ok in life. Take care


Scorpion_Saga

Aloha,

My name is Jeff, a byproduct of Habilitat and the program Director. I am willing to explain the program to anyone who wants to know. I can be reached at 808-235-3691. Habilitat is a highly structured long term program geared toward teaching a positive lifestyle based on hard work and family values. It is considered the last house on the block for many who have tried everything else. We have limited scholorships availible for qualified individuals.

Regards,

Jeff

Hello all,

I just became aware of this site through a guy's mom who is trying to get me to help her son enter Habilitat. I was a heroin and crack addict for more than eight years and had gone through four other programs before Habilitat. The most clean time I ever put together was five days. Then in 2001 I had a massive heroin overdose and was in a coma for three days during which time I flatlined and had to be revived twice. After recuperating for two months, I left the mainland for Kaneohe to check into Habilitat. It was tough, very tough but I knew that if I wasn't there I was going to kill myself with my compulsion to get high. Since graduating, it's like I am a completely different person. I cannot say enough about how that place saved me but it was the hardest thing I have ever done. I just knew that I couldn't keep destroying my family and friends and causing them pain and misery any more. I have helped two people enter the program and they are still there and a third who will be going in next week...hopefully.

When I was there, I was placed in the induction department and my main function was to go to OCCC and Halawa every week to interview and screen applicants for entrance into the program. Sometimes, we even went to outer islands and pulled people from MCCC, KCCC and HCCC. Many of the people I helped get in graduated and remain to be my good friends.

Since graduating three years ago, I have been back four times and I ALWAYS visit the facility and give a seminar of hope and encouragement to the residents to let them know that if I could do it, ANYONE can do it. Habilitat, as much as I did not like being there at all when I was in the program, is the dearest place to my heart because they gave me my life that I have today. It is and will always be...my home.

Aloha from the mainland,

NP

Hi NP,
I appreciate your information. As a little update, in Nov 2006 my son, Chris, got some sort of terribly serious bone infection called osteomyelitis and spent 2-1/2 months in terrible pain in the hospital. He had surgery on his leg and the put steel rods and pins in it to hold it together, etc. He was also on pain meds (morphine pump) most of that time, so needless to say, possibly addicted again after 5 months of being clean. He was supposed to be detox'd before he left the hospital, but he decided to check himself out against medical advice. Anyway, he has been out of the hospital for 5 months now. He has not gone back to the doctors for follow up. I have no idea whether he is back on drugs still or not. Anyway, the key to all of this is--he has to want to go. I can't make him. I have tried and it won't work. He doesn't think he has a problem. So, I don't know how you convince someone to go in. I have been trying for over 15 years.

Any ideas?

Jodi

Hi Jodi,

I know you posted this a LONG.......Time ago. But here is my opinion about Habilitat. I'm sure other people looking towards going there can get an idea from my post what it's like.

2 years ago I was a resident there for 2.5 years. The program was very good! In fact I am still sober and very happy with my life. It was not easy, actually, 7 months into my program I ran away and came back.

I truly believe before someone goes there they really need to take a serious hard look at their life and want to change. If you don't want to change then you're wasting your time by going there.

Now, the CONS of going to habilitat are...

If you graduate the program and socialize with anyone that is on their "shit list" (people that are getting high, didn't complete the program, etc) you will be asked to terminate your friendship with that person OR asked to no longer visit the facility.

That's the only thing I personally am bitter about. I did not graduate the program but a few of my friends did. When word got back to Habilitat that they were socializing with me, they (the graduates) were told to not come around Hab anymore.

I am not getting high..in fact I am doing better than most of the people that I went through the program with that "Graduated" from there.

They will tell you 50% of the people that graduate from Habilitat will succeed. I personally feel like the numbers are lower more like 20%. Or maybe the people I went through the program with were just a bad batch.

Anyways --- All resentment to the side. Habilitat is a VERY EXCELLENT Program. It's just that the person going in must have a desire to change.

HTH!

And that is how we keep the drugs out of our facility!

JN

I know that Habilitat is a very strict drug program. The goal there is for the residents to overcome their substance abuse addiction and I believe the program is for 2 years. I do know that initially there is no freedom at all. The residents are accompanied to all of their appointments by someone else. I've heard that it is a good program but only if the inidividual wants to succeed. Hope this helps you.

Aloha,

I was in Habilitat for 2 years and loved and hated it (hated it because I could'nt do things "my way"). My father was also in the program from the begining and worked there for many years. I did not graduate from the program but was in the Advanced Vocational Training part of it and left on a result of feelings. Habilitat is the most unforgettable place, it is a place full of change and good memories. I wish I could go back to Habilitat and visit but because I split I am not welcomed, I have not used drugs since I left the program (lifestyle) and my life has been nothing but great and successful since I left the program (lifestyle) 13 years ago. Habilitat is not for everyone but for anyone who wants to change and do things their way not yours. I hope this helps anyone who is interested in Habilitat because it is truly a special place, and don't get me wrong it is not easy it is full of challenges but it is well worth it.

Ciao!
MOsborne