About
About Habilitat Inc
Habilitat, Inc. is a long-term residential addiction treatment center founded in 1971 by Vinny Marino on a 1.5-acre oceanfront estate at the base of the Ko’olau Mountains in Kaneohe, on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. The program operates on the therapeutic community model, providing extended residential rehabilitation that is intentionally longer than the 30- to 90-day stays typical of mainstream rehab facilities. Habilitat’s reputation is built on more than five decades of work helping adults transform from addiction and homelessness into self-sustaining members of society.
Clinically, Habilitat positions itself as an alternative to 12-step programs. The model integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with group programming and a therapeutic community structure in which residents take on graduated responsibilities as they progress through treatment. Detoxification is provided to support medically managed withdrawal at admission, followed by residential rehabilitation that emphasizes personal accountability, character development, and skills acquisition. Treatment for substance use disorder, alcohol use disorder, opioid dependence, and trauma is integrated throughout.
A distinguishing feature is Habilitat’s robust vocational training and workforce development arm. The program runs operational businesses—yard maintenance, fencing, catering, and Christmas tree sales—that double as workforce training environments. Residents leave the program with marketable skills and work history, addressing one of the most common drivers of post-treatment relapse: lack of employment and economic stability.
The organization serves a broad adult demographic, including young adults, seniors, men, women, and clients with HIV/AIDS, court-ordered admissions, and trauma histories. As a self-supporting nonprofit, Habilitat funds itself through donations, social enterprises, and treatment fees on a Medicaid, sliding-scale, and self-pay basis. The Kaneohe campus, with its oceanfront location and Ko’olau views, provides a setting unlike any other long-term treatment facility in the United States.
- Over 50 years of continuous operation providing medical detox and residential treatment in Hawaii
- Residential setting allows seamless transition from medical detox to long-term treatment
- Serves specialized populations including court-ordered clients and those with HIV/AIDS support needs
- Extended operating hours 8 AM-9 PM daily for immediate placement assistance
- Multiple payment options including Medicaid, sliding scale, and financial assistance programs