HONOLULU (KHON2) — The Hawaiʻi Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DCR) recognized dozens of employees today during its annual Incentive and Service Awards Ceremony, celebrating years of public service and exceptional performance.
Held at the State Capitol Auditorium, the event honored staff who have served the state for 10, 20, 30, and 40 years. Awards were also presented for Employee of the Year, Manager of the Year, and the 2024 Team Excellence Award of Merit.
This year’s ceremony marks a new chapter for the department following its official split from the Department of Public Safety on Jan. 1, 2024.
The restructuring created two separate entities — DCR and the Department of Law Enforcement (DLE) — with DLE now overseeing all law enforcement operations.
Since the transition, DCR has been focused on moving away from a purely punitive model and toward a more rehabilitative and restorative approach to corrections.
DCR Director Tommy Johnson spoke at the event, joined by Deputy Directors Melanie Martin and Sanna Muñoz. State Rep. Della Au Belatti, who chairs the House Committee on Public Safety, served as keynote speaker.
The annual ceremony celebrates the contributions of staff and highlights the department’s evolving mission in Hawaiʻi’s criminal justice system.