Our state’s Maile Alert program to find missing children boasts a 100% success rate.

Hawai‘i was the last U.S. state to adopt an Amber Alert in 2005; since then, the “Maile” Alerts have been activated four times, most recently this past February when two boys were abducted by their mother’s ex-boyfriend. Within minutes of the alert, which reached cell phone users across Honolulu County, the suspect turned himself in.

“My goal is to make parents in Hawai‘i feel less fearful and to prevent abductions.”

— Amanda Leonard

Photo: Courtesy of Amanda Leonard

Amanda Leonard, who coordinates the program through the Hawai‘i Department of the Attorney General, recently was named the department’s employee of the year for her work running the program, in coordination with local law enforcement, the Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency and other entities.

“Hawai‘i’s tight-knit community has allowed the program to thrive,” says Leonard, a former family law attorney. “My goal is to make parents in Hawai‘i feel less fearful and to prevent abductions. We want to continue our education and outreach so the public is aware of what the alerts are, what they mean and what we are asking them to do to increase the chances of a positive outcome. We also want to make sure we’re helping parents feel more empowered, educated and aware of how to keep their children safe.”

SEE ALSO: Education Cheat Sheet: Helping Kids Navigate News