WAILUKU — As the Maui/Molokai Drug Court held its 67th graduation ceremony Thursday, stories of changed lives weren’t the only evidence of the program’s success.

“The bottom line is crime reduction,” 2nd Circuit Chief Judge Joseph Cardoza said, addressing family members and friends who filled the courtroom gallery.

While participants are in the program, “recidivism rates have remained extremely low,” he said.

“Especially when compared to the number of crimes committed prior, the reduction in crime is dramatic,” Cardoza said.

Including the six graduates Thursday, 661 people have successfully completed the program of intensive treatment and supervision that will mark its 19th anniversary on Aug. 1, Cardoza said.

He said two treatment dorms — one for women and one for men — at the Maui Community Correctional Center are a key part of the program.

“There are Drug Court judges across the United States that will give their right arm for the treatment dorms we have,” Cardoza said.

He said those involved in the program “continue to learn more about how to better serve the community and our participants every day.”

“What we do is based on scientific research, not just feel-good stories, although there are plenty of those,” he said.

Drug Court graduate Eric Wahineho’okae, one of the graduates on Thursday, said that “it wasn’t my first decision but my best decision I’ve made in my life.”

Maui County Prosecuting Attorney Don Guzman, who was guest speaker at the graduation, said it costs $6.65 a day to treat and supervise a Drug Court client in Hawaii, compared with the $140-a-day cost of incarcerating someone.

“There’s this paradigm shift across the nation,” he said. “We need to look at our criminal justice system in a more holistic view. I’m all for that, bringing in more of these treatment court programs.”

He said Honolulu has a community court for homeless people.

“This is the way we need to start looking at our community, not just an adversarial-type case but healing the community,” Guzman said.

The graduation, held during National Drug Court Month, was the last with Cardoza as Drug Court judge. His term as judge ends June 23.

“It’s been a pleasure working with him these years,” said Deputy Prosecutor Kenton Werk, who has been assigned to the Drug Court since 2015. “I have learned a lot of things from seeing him interact with our graduates, his patience, his care and concern and compassion.

“I’m going to miss him.”

While the program has evolved over the years, Cardoza said the Drug Court team of treatment providers, community agencies, sponsors and others has remained.

Addressing the graduates, Cardoza said: “Thank you for the privilege of working with you and learning from you. Each and every graduate of this program remains special in my heart.”

* Lila Fujimoto can be reached at lfujimoto@mauinews.com.