Lorenn Walker
Lorenn Walker, JD, MPH, works to systemically shift using the criminal legal system for social problems to more helpful processes. She directs Hawai‘i Friends of Restorative Justice, is a professor for the University of Hawai’i Mānoa, and a Senior Fulbright Specialist. She has been interviewed about her work by the Oprah Winfrey Network, NPR, and CNN.
Fighting discouragement, and not becoming jaded from working with government and bureaucracy, can be mentally challenging. In 2010, it seemed to me that Hawai’i’s parole system was more interested in re-incarcerating people, than their rehabilitation. I believed some parole officers were happy when their clients tested positive for drugs, and they could send them back to prison. To counter my negativity and growing cynicism, I decided to focus on who was doing well in the system. What parole officers were working to prevent relapses, and who was managing to complete parole? It was easy to find outstanding parole officers and there are many amazing role models on parole. With the support of the Hawai‘i Friends of Restorative Justice, which I direct, I worked to recognize those who were doing good things and thriving, instead of complaining about the system’s failures. Like Russ who Takaki believed: “Nothing fails like failure.”
Hawai’i’ has a rich history of its parole office success. In the 1960s and 1970s the compassionate Takaki helped administer the office. Since the 1940s Takaki was also a well-known big wave surfer. As a child he faced inordinate hardship and difficulties, but he worked and studied hard. He was fortunate to be sponsored academically, and his education saved him from being interned because of his Japanese ancestry during World War II. His daughter Ku‘ulei Rogers, an accomplished marine biologist at the University of Hawai‘i, remembers the empathy and hope that Takaki extended those he worked with: “He became close friends with many who went through the parole system. He often took them surfing and out for dinner. He got to know their families on a personal level. What he did was not just a job to him, he was truly dedicated to making Hawai’i a better place for us all.”
Wanting to focus on the positive, I referred to John Braithwaite and Shadd Maruna for ideas about positive ritual for effective reentry. With their invaluable work and advice, the restorative parole completion celebration was created. Since 2010, it has become an annual event held at Ali‘iolani Hale, currently used as Hawai‘i’s Supreme Court, the state’s highest court, located downtown Honolulu. Ironically, incarcerated people help build this beautiful stone building built in 1872. In 2024, the celebration had been provided fifteen times with almost one thousand people in total over the years participating. Along with people convicted of felonies and their loved ones, dignitaries including governors and judges have attended.
Those completing parole for the year, their loved ones, and others who work in government and are interested in reentry, are invited to attend. Every year paper invitations are mailed to about 100 people being discharged from parole. In 2024, restorative, transformative, and other justice innovators including Indigenous peacemakers, participated in the event. These special guests were visiting O‘ahu for the first Justice Innovations Summit.
A small fraction of people being discharged from parole choose to attend the event, which makes sense. They are tired of government supervision. They appreciate being out of the system and free of its requirements. A few, however, always attend. The written invitations to them includes a letter complimenting them on their achievements. Because we understand most will not be interested in attending, we strive to write an uplifting letter that congratulates them on their hard work and success in meeting all the parole requirements, which some have managed for decades.
The parole completion celebration begins around five o’clock in the evening. Between 60 and 80 people usually participate. An hour is spent socializing with food, Hawaiian music, and sometimes hula on the court’s first floor marble rotunda. For many being discharged from parole, and their families, this is their first-time visiting Ali‘iolani Hale. After the food and socializing, everyone goes upstairs into the courtroom area where a giant circle of chairs has been set up.
The circle begins with a Native Hawaiian standing in the middle of the circle providing an oli. It is a chant or song and an important Hawaiian cultural practice to open meetings and events. The group is next welcomed. For the last decade the state’s Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald has greeted the circle. He has said this event is one of the “most inspiring” things he does every year. Next, about six people are recognized and given awards (a framed photograph of the beach or waves on O‘ahu usually) for their efforts getting off parole or helping others do so. The first person awarded is someone being discharged who has done exceptionally well. This has included becoming a respected vehicle mechanic, raising children, attending school, or completing college degrees. Other awards are for an employer who openly hires people with felony convictions and for those whose work supports restorative and social justice. Several awards are named after people from Hawai’i including Jackie Young and Patti Lyons who were pioneers in bringing positive change for those disenfranchised in Hawai‘i.
The first award was given in 2010 for Russ Takaki. Later we named the Russ Takaki Restorative Parole Officer Award in his honor. In 2024, this award was given to the entire parole officer team on Kaua‘i. Federal and state probation officers have also received awards in the past.
While there are downsides of presenting awards, e.g., they can encourage competition, tokenism, etc., we believe that these negative possibilities are outweighed by the positives including recognizing hard work and achievement, to increase motivation, and helping to build community and group morale. In my case, and for other professionals, the awards can help shift a cynical mindset to an optimistic one. The awards take about 15 minutes to give at the event. After that, about one hour is spent for a large talking circle where those completing parole briefly say anything they want with the community and community members briefly say what they want. People often share deeply heartwarming and quite beautiful sentiments.
The parole completion celebration symbolically accepts individuals back into the community after their discharge from parole. It helps bring inspiration and positivity to the system, it helps defeat cynicism, and it fosters motivation among professionals and those being discharged. By celebrating successes and recognizing the efforts of both those who got off parole and those working in the system, the ritual helps to disrupt negative perceptions. It helps strengthen community connections.
A 2015 paper further discusses the parole completion celebration and its relationship to restorative justice and therapeutic jurisprudence. Please contact me too if you want more information about the event: lorenn@hawaii.edu.
Lorenn Walker, JD, MPH, works to systemically shift using the criminal legal system for social problems to more helpful processes. She directs Hawai‘i Friends of Restorative Justice, is a professor for the University of Hawai’i Mānoa, and a Senior Fulbright Specialist. She has been interviewed about her work by the Oprah Winfrey Network, NPR, and CNN.
