Foster family charged with abuse
By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer
Three Wai'anae residents were indicted yesterday and charged with abusing five foster-care children in what prosecutors said was a "house of torture."
Prosecutors said knives, hammers and even a can of dog food were used to abuse the three boys and two girls ages 8, 11, 13, 14 and 15. Indicted by an O'ahu grand jury were:
Prosecutors said the Kalamas were foster parents to the children and Makekau lived with the family.
Derick Dahilig, spokesman for the Department of Human Services, declined to comment.
The children are siblings and were removed from the Kalamas' Wai'anae home after allegations of abuse surfaced in February, prosecutors said. The indictment provided few details, but suggested a pattern of abuse that began in January 2004.
In asking the judge to determine bail, deputy prosecutor Lori Wada said the children were tortured. "These were atrocious acts of cruelty that made this a house of torture for two years," Wada said.
Makekau is accused of assaulting the children with a knife, hammer, metal spoon and can of dog food, according to the indictment.
Gabriel Kalama beat two of the children with a baseball bat and abused the other children, the indictment said.
Barbara Kalama knowingly allowed the abuse to occur and also took part in the abuse, the indictment said.
Reach Curtis Lum at culum@honoluluadvertiser.com.
