HONOLULU — Jerry Jona will be the new warden at the Kaua‘i Community Correctional Center, effective Jan. 3, the state Department of Public Safety announced on Friday afternoon.
Jona’s selection was one of four made by the department, the other three selections being Shannon Cluney, warden at the Halawa Correctional Facility; Ione “Noni” Guillonta, warden at the Women Community Correctional Center; and Liane Endo, warden at the Maui Community Correctional Center.
Jona has been employed with the department since 1999, starting his career as a social worker at KCCC before being promoted to corrections supervisor. Most recently, Jona has been acting warden at KCCC since the retirement of former Warden Neal Wagatsuma in December 2021.
“Warden Jona brings decades of experience and knowledge to KCCC, and has, over the years, developed community partnerships that benefit the incarcerated population and their successful reintegration back into the community,” said Tommy Johnson, director of the state Department of Public Safety.
According to the department, the appointment of Guillonta is historic because there has never been a permanent female warden at WCCC.
“Warden Guillonta is coming on board as the department plans to relocate all of the females housed at the O‘ahu Community Correctional Center,” said Johnson.
“This represents a major permanent change to where women pretrial detainees and sentenced women misdemeanants are held on O‘ahu, and Warden Guillonta’s timely appointment dovetails nicely with coming changes.”
Guillonta has 30 years of correctional experience, starting as a correctional officer for the state of Wisconsin Department of Corrections in 1990. In 2010, Guillonta was promoted to deputy warden before retiring in 2020.
“These individuals come with many years of experience, in-depth knowledge and dedication within the correctional field,” said Deputy Director for Corrections Michael J. Hoffman.
“We are excited and honored to have these outstanding civil servants on board, and to be a part of our Corrections administrative team.”
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
Source: The Garden Island
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