Trending
Circuit Court Judges Peter Cahill (from left, first photo), Rhonda Loo, Richard Bissen and Joseph Cardoza pose with Drug Court graduates Daniel Tungpalan, Robert Walsh, Misty Gonzales, Eboni Prentice, Shiloh Deal, Amanda Costello Salazar and Richard Cramer on Thursday afternoon at Hoapili Hale's Courtroom 3. In his remarks to the members of Maui Drug Court's 66th graduation class, Chief Judge Cardoza said they all had the choice and the tools to remain healthy. "Be proud of your accomplishments, but never take them for granted," Cardoza said. "Never take your recovery for granted." He also urged family members in the audience to do their part to help ensure the graduates do not relapse. "Recovery for life is a team effort," Cardoza said. It takes the average Drug Court graduate 20½ months to complete the program, with only 14.77 percent of graduates ending up back in the criminal justice system, Cardoza said. "At its core, it is a crime reduction program."
Second photo: Chief Judge Joseph Cardoza addresses the audience during Thursday's 66th Maui Drug Court graduation in Wailuku.
Third photo: Drug Court graduate Amanda Costello Salazar gets a hug from lei greeter Candace DePonte.
The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photos