Every new resident writes a “first letter home” to the person they consider their primary contact letting the family know where they are and that they are safe. Thereafter, a minimum two-month “blackout” period is imposed, allowing them to make friends, adjust to their environment, and to shift their focus away from “outside matters”. This means they are neither allowed to send or receive correspondence. We understand this is not only difficult for the resident; sometimes it’s equally difficult for families and loved ones.

After a minimum of 2 months, they become eligible to receive written correspondence from immediate family, not boyfriends, girlfriends, nor long-lost cousins. Your correspondence, therefore, becomes your primary means of encouragement and support.

Keep your communication brief, upbeat and encouraging. One letter per month is a good rule of thumb to follow. Do not burden them with matters they can’t do anything about, i.e., the dog died, their pager’s lost, or if “60 Minutes” is knocking at your door. Mentioning of a medical condition about a family member to the resident may divert their attention, especially if the resident is new in the program. Also, a reference to old friends, boyfriends, girlfriends, etc. virtually guarantees that your letter will be returned, unread by the resident.

All mail is screened by trained staff; all inappropriate mail will be returned. Residents are only allowed to receive mail from immediate family and other approved contacts. Bad news should not be communicated via mail, in the event of bad news contact Habilitat clinical staff via phone @ (808) 235-3691. Residents are not allowed to receive mail from jails, state penitentiaries, other treatment programs or have any updates regarding past relationships, significant others and old drug buddies.

Habilitat residents are allowed phone calls after about 4 months of residency depending on the individual. While written family contact is considered a mandatory responsibility, phone calls are earned. All Habilitat phone calls must be initiated by the resident. Incoming calls are not allowed. Residents are allowed to request one family call per month. Those request are evaluated by the clinical staff and authorized on merit. Residents are encouraged to place calls on the weekends but in some instances exceptions can be made. All phone calls have a maximum limit of 20 minutes.

All phone calls are monitored by staff or a trained older resident. The person covering the call will go through a screening process to make sure that the proper party is on the line and that the receiving party understands the guidelines. We do not allow news about former relationships or messages from old friends. We do not allow contact with family members who have recent criminal or substance abuse issues. Residents are only allowed to call immediate family. All phone calls should be positive and supportive.

In the event that there is any news that might be distracting, we require prior notification. All news of illness or death must be communicated to the clinical staff first. We do not keep information from our residents, so if you tell us news, we are obligated to inform the resident. This is always done in a private setting with support so that all questions can be answered. If you bring up any bad news on a phone call the monitors WILL discontinue the phone call until the clinical staff can get the details and meet privately with the resident.

Our guidelines, while strict, are there for a reason. Any blatant disregard for Habilitat’s phone call guidelines can result in restricted phone use in the future. If you are unsure about our guidelines, it is in everyone’s best interest to call and ask. We reserve the right to restrict telephone contact if calls become disruptive or undermine our philosophies.

If, there is a legitimate emergency or family crisis, please contact one of the clinical staff directly. It is essential that we be aware of situations that may affect a resident’s progress and be prepared to give them our support.

A resident becomes eligible for visitation after they have been promoted to the Re-Entry phase of the program, which occurs after approximately 6-8 months of residency. Families who reside on the island of Oahu have the added benefit of attending family meetings. Attendance at these meetings is taken into consideration when visit requests are made. To learn more about visitation and our policies please read below.

 

What To Expect On Your Visit:

Habilitat visits are scheduled through our parent coordinator Lokelani Tynan. All visits are scheduled well ahead of time and are contingent on the behavior of the resident. We reserve the right to cancel without notice in the event that the resident’s behavior warrants such action.

Usually, requests for visits are not considered until after (6) six months of residency. All visit requests must be made at least (30) thirty days in advance.

We have a strict limit of six (6) visitors per scheduled visit. That includes children of any age. All visitors must be authorized ahead of time by our staff and any unscheduled visitors will be denied entry.

Most visits are scheduled for the weekends due to the busy schedule at Habilitat. In some cases we can arrange a week day visit but ample prior scheduling time is required.

All visits will be accompanied by two older residents of our choosing and the family visiting is responsible for transportation and cost of refreshments for the two chaperones.

Visitors from off island are usually granted three consecutive days of visits. Friday evening on site, Saturday and Sunday off site.

For family members visiting from off island, flight itinerary including arrival date and time need to be provided. We must know where visitors will be staying and how many people will be coming for the visit, along with their names and relationship to the resident.

Whatever fun things you have planned, please take our advice and wear sunscreen. Hawaii’s sun is much stronger than what you might be used to.

Visitation Guidelines

A resident will be eligible for a visit in accordance with clinical staff’s discretion. Usually, requests for visits receive approval upon entering the second phase of the program, which varies from (6-9) months of residency. All visits are contingent on the resident’s behavior and progress in the program. Each visit is accompanied by two residents selected by the House Staff. The Facility Director shall designate the times of all visits.

• 1. There is to be absolutely no purchasing of gifts for residents unless cleared by the Facility Director prior to or during visits. If it’s cleared, the amount is not to exceed $200.00.
• 2. Do not engage in conversations concerning prior friends, relationships, family problems or anything that might interrupt the resident’s progress or be emotionally upsetting to the resident.
• 3. There will be no consumption of alcohol or illicit drugs while visiting with the resident. Visitors are not permitted on the facility if they have been drinking or using illicit drugs the day of the visit. Anyone violating this guideline will be restricted from any future visits.
• 4. During all outings, parents will be responsible for the cost of meals and entertainment for the resident and the accompanying residents.
• 5. All visit requests must be made at least (30) thirty days prior to the requested visit date.
• 6. We need to be provided with a flight itinerary, including arrival date and time. We must know where visitors will be staying, how many people will be coming for the visit, along with their names and relationship to the resident.
• 7. The destinations of all outings must be approved by clinical staff.
• 8. Visitors are not allowed to speak to any other residents about their families or friends, if they know them. Passing messages or delivering gifts is strictly prohibited.
• 9. A meeting will be scheduled with staff prior to your visit to go over the do’s and don’ts to be observed during visits and to answer any questions you might have. We will also provide a tour of the facility and an update of the resident’s progress in the program during the time of your visit. Any mail or pictures must be approved by staff prior to the visit.
• 10. Any violation of these guidelines will result in cancellation of the visit. All visits are also subject to cancellation if the resident’s behavior warrants such action.
• 11. In certain clinical situations, such as House Ban, no one is permitted visitation. These situations sometimes come about quite suddenly. If we are unable to inform you of such a situation before you begin your trip to Hawaii, we will not be responsible for the inconvenience and will not deviate from our set policies.
• 12. Phone calls by residents to friends or relatives, is prohibited while on visits unless it has been cleared by clinical staff before the visit.

Accommodation Options:

• Waikiki offers numerous hotels in a tourist setting.
• Kailua is a nearby beach town offering numerous beach house vacation rentals. Book reservations early as availability varies.
• Ko Olina Resort– Is located on the west side of the Island and offers a variety of amenities including championship golf and three private lagoons.
• Turtle Bay Resort is a scenic 30 minute drive from Habilitat’s facility. They offer golf and tennis along with the normal resort activities

There are various other locations that accommodate visitors. Unfortunately, Hawaii is not a budget destination. Everything cost a little more here but we still love it!Things to do while on a visit:

Shopping is always a favorite activity. We now only allow purchase of clothing or items that are considered “NEEDS.” Habilitat has a very strict spending limit but we do allow for a total of $200.00 worth of merchandise. We ask that all clothing purchased be conservative, no tight clothing, excessive baggy clothing will not be accepted and everything is subject to our staff’s approval. Receipts are required for all merchandise. There are several places to shop near our facility.

Eating out is a favorite visit activity. Our island has it’s own unique style of foods influenced by the great diversity in our mixed culture. You can enjoy a variety of choices from authentic Hawaiian food to gourmet Asian cuisine. We recommend the following establishments for an enjoyable meal.

Best Hamburgers

Teddy’s – Bigger Burger gets my vote for the best Island Burger.

Kua’aina Sandwich Shop – Delicious burgers and sandwiches.

Best Hawaiian Food

Helena’s Hawaiian Food– Here on Oahu for over 55 years, Helena’s remains the simple and unpretentious eatery it was over 6 decades ago

Best Hole in the wall

L&L Drive Inn – Plate lunches, various island locations

Ono’s Hawaiian Barbeque – Plate lunch, Kapahulu Ave

Gina’s Korean BBQ – Located in the Market City Center

Fine Dining

Hiroshi Eurasian Tapas– Modern Asian Inspired Tapas and Innovative Cuisine.

Haleiwa Joe’s- Two locations, one on the north shore and one in Kaneohe.

Roy’s Restaurant– Fresh blends of local ingredients with european sauces and bold asian sauces.

Alan Wong’s- Award winning restaurant located in downtown Honolulu.

Visiting tourist attractions

Hawaii is a wonderful place to visit. Our tropical climate makes our island the perfect place for year round vacationing. Oahu has many once in a lifetime attractions for your consideration.

Beach outings (Hanauma Bay, Kailua Beach Park, Makapu’u Beach, Kualoa Beach Park, Ko’olina Beach Resorts, etc.)

The Honolulu Zoo – Located in the heart of Waikiki and a short walk from the Waikiki Hotels.

Polynesian Cultural Center – Experience all the cultures of the Polynesian islands, learn the history and join in on the cultural activities.

Pearl Harbor – Experience history through the national memorial’s program tour, museum, and exhibits as you discover the final resting place for the battleship Arizona.

Battleship Missouri – Today, the “Mighty Mo” is open for visitors in Pearl Harbor as the Battleship Missouri Memorial, under the care of the USS Missouri Memorial Association, Inc. Not supported with government funding, the Association is a Hawaii-based 501 (C) 3 non-profit organization dedicated to creating and maintaining a fitting memorial to the people and historic events reflecting our nation’s legacy of duty, honor, strength, resolve, and sacrifice.

Kualoa Ranch – The Ranch offers a wide variety of outdoor activities, educational programs, and scenic tours. The lovely valley setting has been used in several movies and television shows.

Hiking– Oahu has numerous well traveled hiking paths of various difficulty.

We do our best to keep parents and family members as well informed as possible. Rebuilding family bonds are an integral part of our program. We hold our parent meetings to let families know the progress of their loved one. Parent meetings are held quarterly at our Habilitat Construction warehouse, not our facility. Our warehouse is located at 45-217 Kahuhipa St. Kaneohe, HI. 96744. There will be no residents at the meeting. The meeting is not “family therapy”. It is an open forum for questions and answers about how your loved one is doing, updates on their progress and a general overview of Habilitat’s treatment philosophies. For more information lease call 235-3691 and ask for our family coordinator.