HONOLULU -- An unlikely group has become the target of a manhunt in Hawaii.

Authorities say 10 teenage girls -- ages 14 to 17 -- escaped from the Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility after overpowering a guard and stealing a van. They also cut phone lines so staff couldn't call for help.

Nine of the teens remained on the loose Sunday, and one was captured.

They were among 17 girls housed in a privately managed cottage at the facility and were being held for a variety of offenses, said Bert Matsuoka, executive director of the state Office of Youth Services.

"We've had escapes before, but 10 at one time ... I can't remember when we had 10," he said.

Marge Degroot, who knows the escaped inmates described them as nice girls and "very sweet."

The breakout Saturday came two weeks after the girls' section of the Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility was entrusted to a private organization that uses security guards trained as counselors.