Hawaiʻi Youth Correctional Facility Taps into Fast Food for Emergency Meals: $80,000 Spending Approved
Understaffed Kitchen Sparks a Shift to Takeout
For the third consecutive year, the Hawaiʻi Youth Correctional Facility in Olomana is grappling with a staffing crisis in its kitchen, leading to an unexpected reliance on fast food for emergency meals. With an approved budget of up to $80,000, the facility is turning to local favorites like Zippy’s, L&L Hawaiian Barbecue, and grocery chains such as Times and Foodland to feed both staff and young detainees.
A Growing Concern: Emergency Meals Necessitated by Shortage
The crisis became evident earlier this year when the facility received the green light to procure emergency meals due to ongoing staffing shortages. This marks a troubling trend: state officials have had to depend on takeout options for prison meals for three years in a row.
In 2023, the kitchen staff dwindled down to just one cook, resulting in expenditures of approximately $61,000 on emergency takeout. Comparatively, the previous year’s cost—only $5,000—was lower due to the hiring of an additional cook. However, the facility remains short of a fully staffed kitchen, which requires at least three cooks.
The Cost of Hiring Challenges
According to Leanne Gillespie, executive director of the youth services office, the hiring process within the state is adding to the woes. Applicants can wait as long as nine months before starting their positions, significantly complicating meal provisions for the facility, which serves a youth population that requires substantial and nutritious meals.
“It really puts us in a difficult position,” Gillespie noted, emphasizing the critical need for adequate food supplies.
The facility must also cater to the dietary needs of staff members who work long hours without breaks.
Efforts to Address Meal Provisions
Despite their proactive efforts—posting solicitations for vendors on the state’s procurement website for the last two years—the facility has struggled to attract potential providers. The Women’s Community Correctional Center nearby has similarly been unable to step in to help due to short notice.
Consequently, the facility has favored some of Hawaiʻi’s fast food establishments, taking advantage of their flexible ordering and delivery options.
“L&L Kailua Town is very accommodating,” the request states. The establishment has been able to provide last-minute emergency meals at competitive prices, making it a preferred partner for the facility.
Zippy’s also garners attention from staff for its convenient online ordering capabilities, while Foodland has been leveraged for overtime meal provision as well.
Conclusion: A Complex Situation Requires Creative Solutions
The reliance on fast food as a primary source of meals for a correctional facility may raise eyebrows, but it highlights a critical moment in addressing staff shortages and the challenges of providing basic needs for detained youth. As the state navigates through the complexities of hiring and staffing, the creative solutions developed in the face of adversity stand as a testament to the facility’s commitment to serve its community—though it’s a remedy that many would hope is only temporary.
With the request for $800,000 to cover meal costs extending throughout the year, the spotlight is now on local stakeholders and policymakers to find sustainable and effective solutions to this pressing issue.
For more information about ongoing youth correctional services in Hawai‘i, you can explore resources from Hawaiʻi Correctional Services.
