Staff shortages forced officials to cancel visiting hours Sunday at the Women’s Community Correctional Center and Oahu Community Correctional Center.

The prison system has been battling chronic absenteeism among guards on weekends, the only time family visits are allowed.

This was the fourth time this month that visitation was canceled at the women’s prison in Kailua; it was the second time this month for OCCC.

Since March, when the Department of Public Safety began announcing canceled visits on social media, OCCC has lost 18 visitation days. 

Visitation at the women’s prison was also canceled on Mother’s Day, May 11.

The department posts visitation cancellation notices through social media from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. on the day of the visit. To find out more about visiting schedules, visit dps.hawaii.gov.