KEALAKEKUA — Supporters of Big Island Veterans Treatment Court celebrated its sixth graduating class at the Kona courthouse Monday afternoon.
Rex Corpuz, Samuel Keananaaina and Edward Joseph Schoeppner increase the number of graduating Kona veterans to seven since the program’s inception in November 2014.
“Drug court and veterans treatment court cannot function without your support,” Judge Ronald Ibarra told the group gathered in the 3rd Circuit courtroom. “It takes a team, a community to get these people back to where they were before their service.”
Each graduate was recognized publicly. Alika Querubin, probation officer for the program, first spoke about Corpuz.
Corpuz served in the Hawaii National Guard from July 1972 to July 1995.
He was admitted as the seventh participant in the program in December 2016.
“He remained clean and sober with no violations the entire time he was in the program,” Querubin said of Corpuz. “It still surprises me that he had a drug problem and was at one time homeless.”
Deputy Prosecutor Mark Disher assists in the program. He said he takes notes of what the participants say when he meets with them.
Disher said Corpuz expressed he was full of shame.
However, as time went on Corpuz related to Disher how treatment motivated him to stay clean.
“The program helped me to understand how important life is,” Corpuz said. “Everyone has their own journey.”
Keananaaina was the eighth participant of veterans drug court, Querubin said. He joined in March 2016.
Keananaaina served in the U.S. Navy from 1969 to 1972.
Also a Navy man, Disher said he may have been harder on Keananaaina than on others.
“Navy core values are honor, courage and commitment,” the prosecutor said. “I believe he exemplifies those values. He had the honor to see the program through.”
The third graduate recognized was Schoeppner. He was admitted as the fourth participant in 2015.
An Army veteran from August 1969 to February 1972, Schoeppner was described as many there as the poster child of success to veterans court.
After 47 years of substance abuse and 15 years of incarceration, Schoeppner was able to change to make a life change.
“When I first met you it felt like nobody was home,” said Deputy Public Defender Joanna Sokolow. “That has changed remarkably. You’re full of life and full of joy.”
Sokolow went on to say there were people who had low expectations for Schoeppner.
“Thank you for being part of this program and showing how successful it can be,” she said.
Schoeppner is hopeful for the future. He’s reconnected with family and will meet two of his grandchildren in October for the first time.
“If they can help me, they can help anybody,” he said of the program. “It’s given me a second chance to educate myself and realize how important life is.”
Hawaii lawmakers decided not to fund veterans treatment court this past legislative session. Federal funding for the program ends Sept. 30.
Grayson Hashida, coordinator for veterans court, said spots in regular drug court will be reduced to keep the program available to veterans.
However, the number of spots available for treatment in veterans court will also be reduced.
Hashida said veterans court currently serves 12 veterans in Kona and 12 veterans in Hilo. That will be reduced to five in Kona and five in Hilo.