HONOLULU — Inmates in Hawaii are tackling a butterfly pest that has been damaging crops at an Oahu prison farm. ADVERTISING HONOLULU — Inmates in Hawaii are tackling a butterfly pest that has been damaging crops at an Oahu prison
HONOLULU — Inmates in Hawaii are tackling a butterfly pest that has been damaging crops at an Oahu prison farm.
Honolulu television station KITV reports the population of cabbage moth butterflies exploded two years ago at the Waiawa prison farm.
Prison officials came up with a plan to eradicate the butterflies with the help of inmates.
Farm supervisor Milton Sato says inmates earn one point for catching a caterpillar and two points for a butterfly. He says the total will be tallied and inmates can earn cash incentives.
Inmates earn 25 cents an hour but can make more through the butterfly eradication program.
Correctional industries supervisor Shanwentay Yasuda says the work builds inmate morale.
Inmate Aaron Maxwell says the work has made an impact, despite people being skeptical about the project.
