“This program has given me more than a second chance. It has given me a second life.”

That’s how Brandon Kekina described Hawaiʻi Drug Court after receiving his certificate of completion.

Kekina was one of 14 individuals recognized during a commencement ceremony held in the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court courtroom on November 3. The event celebrated ten graduates of the First Circuit Drug Court’s 92nd graduating class, as well as graduates from the Mental Health Court’s 44th and Veterans Treatment Court’s 43rd classes.

The Judiciary’s specialty courts provide treatment-focused alternatives to incarceration, helping participants address the underlying causes of criminal behavior and build stable, productive lives.

Drug Court graduate Jeremiah Denham gave special thanks to First Circuit Drug Court Judge Matthew Viola and others who supported him during his 621 days of sobriety while completing the program.

“Without your support, structure, and even your tough love, I wouldn’t be standing here today,” Denham said in his commencement address.

“When I first started this program, I wasn’t sure if I could do it. I felt lost, broken, and hopeless. Recovery seemed like a word that belonged to other people—not someone like me. But slowly, through every check-in, every class, every step, I started to see something different. I started to see myself again—and the person I could become. Drug Court gave me the tools to fight for that person.”

Acting Chief Justice Sabrina McKenna congratulated the graduates and encouraged them to take pride in their accomplishments and perseverance.

“When you encounter challenges and moments of doubt—as is natural and will likely happen—I encourage you to look back and think about this day and how you felt today,” McKenna said. “Remember all the hard work that brought you to this point and all the people in this room who support you.”

Drug Court is an intensive, court-supervised outpatient program for individuals whose crimes are linked to substance abuse. Participants receive treatment and case management services that include mental health and medical care, frequent and random drug and alcohol testing, job and housing assistance, home visits, curfew monitoring, and regular review hearings before a Drug Court judge. Clients who maintain sobriety and pursue education or employment are eligible for incentives and recognition as they progress through the program.

Veterans Treatment Court serves justice-involved veterans whose challenges stem from substance abuse, trauma, or other service-related issues. The program works closely with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and community-based treatment providers to help veterans recover, reconnect with family, and reestablish healthy, purposeful lives.

Mental Health Court assists individuals in the criminal justice system who live with serious mental illness. The program connects participants with specialized community treatment providers offering psychiatric care, psycho-social rehabilitation, and substance abuse recovery. Participants redirected from incarceration receive treatment and supervision support, reduced jail sentences, and may qualify for early termination of probation or even dismissal of charges.

Denham offered a final message to current participants:

“To those still in the program, I want to say—don’t give up, even when it gets hard. Those moments are when the most growth happens.”

For more information about the programs, contact the First Circuit Court Adult Client Services Branch at 808-539-4500.