The Paiolu Kaiaulu homeless shelter in Waianae has been rocked by allegations that a nine year old girl was raped by an adult male resident late Monday morning.

In an interview with Khon2 the mother of the victim said she found her daughter by her bedroom door moments after the alleged assault on March 24th. “I found my kid, my daughter by my door butt naked," said the woman, whose name is being withheld by Khon2.

Darryl Vincent of U.S. Vets, the organization that runs the shelter, confirmed an investigation into the alleged rape is ongoing but refused further comment. Police have no record of an arrest at the shelter and would not say if they have identified a suspect.

The victim's mother says her daughter received six-and-a-half stitches cause of the assault and the girl is now afraid to stay at Paiolu Kaiaulu, which houses as many as 300 people. She says her daughter was taken to the Sex Abuse Treatment Center at the Kapiolani Center for Women and Children where investigators took photographs of the girl’s wounds and gathered DNA evidence.

A close friend of the victim's family says staff at the shelter conducted their own investigation after the girl said her attacker wore a red shirt. "The staff in the office had questioned four adult males and this ten year old boy,” said Barrylyn Aldeguer. “One of the adult males had a red shirt on and the young boy, the ten year old boy had a red shirt on also.”

Aldeguer says the young boy was eventually cleared of any wrong-doing and a male resident was identified as a possible suspect. She says many parents at the shelter were shocked by the allegations and have taken extra precautions to safeguard their children.

“People are afraid because we have fear that our children might be next,” said Aldeguer. “People are upset because they want to be safe; they want to feel safe.”

Vincent said there has always been adequate security at the shelter since it opened in March of last year but Aldeguer questions if more could have been done to protect the nine year old girl who she described as emotionally scarred.

“They need to show us as the residents that we are safe instead of telling us to leave the (victim’s) family alone,” she said, her voice cracking with emotion. Aldeguer also made a plea to Governor Linda Lingle, whose administration spearheaded construction of the shelter.

“Mrs. Linda Lingle,” said Aldeguer as tears welled up in her eyes, “you need to check on these people that run (the shelter). Really check on them.”

Andrew may be reached at apereira@khon2.com or ph. 591-4263.