Death at Hālawa Correctional Facility, Employee Identified

The Hālawa Correctional Facility employee who died on Monday has since been identified as 37-year-old Darwin Fernandez, officials with the Department of Public Safety confirmed.

Fernandez was a cook supervisor in the staff dining hall at the Hālawa Medium Security Facility. He was employed with the Department of Public Safety since Nov. 16, 2011.

Fernandez was found unresponsive in a staff bathroom at approximately 3:10 p.m. Facility medical staff responded to provide medical assistance and confirmed his death at about 3:20 p.m.

As part of normal procedure, officers with the Honolulu Police Department, investigators with the Attorney General’s Office investigators and personnel with the Public Safety Internal Affairs division are currently conducting investigations into the death.   The Honolulu Police Department has opened an unattended death investigation. The official cause of death is pending the coroner’s final determination.

“Our thoughts and prayers go to his grieving family. This is a difficult situation for them as well as our staff,” said Public Safety Director Nolan Espinda. “We are fully cooperating with our law enforcement partners as they investigate the death and acknowledge that they need to be able to do their jobs without speculation from us on the how’s and why’s surrounding this tragic situation.”