Bronson Nunuha improved his knowledge of Hawaiian culture by taking a correspondence course while in prison and had dreams of returning to Maui to become a cook and raise his 7-year-old son, his mother said.

His stabbing death in an Arizona corrections center contracted by the state of Hawaii ended his hopes and dreams, Davina Waialae said.

"He wanted to do the best he could, get a job," Waialae, 49, said Wednesday. "He wanted to do what’s right for his child. … My family is still devastated. … My grandson has to grow up without a dad."

Nunuha’s family filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the state and its contractor, Tennessee-based Corrections Corp. of America, alleging understaffing and their failure to protect Nunuha, who was killed by fellow inmates on Feb. 18, 2010, in a CCA prison in Eloy, Ariz.

Nunuha, 26, who was transferred to the Saguaro Correctional Center in 2007, was in his cell when he was stabbed more than 140 times and the name of a gang was carved into his chest, the suit says.

The lawsuit alleges the state Department of Public Safety and Hawaii officials recognized the dangers of the CCA’s practice of mixing inmates with gang ties with those not involved in gangs, as well as with rival gang members. The state also was aware of lax supervision of housing units, the suit says.

Two inmates — Miti Maugaotega Jr., 24, and Micah Kanahele, 29 — have been indicted on first-degree murder and gang-related charges in Nunuha’s death.

Kenneth M. Walczak, attorney for the Nunuha family, said Wednesday that officials of the Saguaro facility failed to separate violent offenders from nonviolent offenders such as Nunuha.

Nunuha was serving a five-year sentence for two counts of second-degree burglary and one count of third-degree property damage on Maui in 2006, the lawsuit said.

Walczak said Nunuha was months away from being released and that, under Hawaii law, he should have been transferred to a prison in the state.

"Bronson’s death was senseless and preventable," Walczak said. "CCA and the state of Hawaii needlessly put him in danger."

Waialae said that during a video conference with her son, she saw that he had a black eye.

"He was crying," she said.

The lawsuit, which is receiving legal assistance from the Human Rights Defense Center and the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii Foundation is the latest filed by island inmates against CCA and the state.

In 2010, a suit brought by 18 Hawaii inmates alleged they were beaten by guards at the Saguaro prison.

Inmate Clifford Medina, 23, of Hawaii, was strangled at Saguaro in a separate incident in 2010.

Steve Owen, CCA spokesman, declined comment Wednesday on the lawsuit but said the company has rigorous programs to promote inmate safety.

"We take the protection and treatment of the inmates in our care very seriously," Owen said.

The state Attorney General’s Office said it had not seen the suit and declined comment.

The suit seeks general damages of more than $25,000 and unspecified other damages.

Walczak said Nunuha’s family also wants the state and CCA to work to improve inmate safety, including proper staffing of housing units and segregating violent and nonviolent inmates.

ACLU senior staff attorney Daniel Gluck said his office supports House Bill 2514 and House Bill 2515, which would help to reduce the prison population by having the parole board conduct risk assessments of inmates and by raising the threshold for second-degree theft from more than $300 to more than $750, among other actions.

Both bills were passed by the House Committee on Judiciary.