News Release – WCCC and Faith-Based Organization Host Kids’ Day To Support Keiki Of Incarcerated Mothers

 

 

DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND REHABILITATION 

KA ‘OIHANA HOʻOMALU KALAIMA A HOʻOPONOPONO OLA 

 

JOSH GREEN, M.D.

GOVERNOR 

KE KIAʻĀINA 

 

 

TOMMY JOHNSON 

DIRECTOR 

KA LUNA HO‘OKELE 

WCCC AND FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATION HOST KIDS’ DAY TO SUPPORT KEIKI OF INCARCERATED MOTHERS

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 5, 2025

HONOLULU — On a humid Saturday morning, 10 mothers anxiously stood in the Women’s Community Correctional Center (WCCC) Maunawili Cottage courtyard with their eyes fixed on the security entry door, waiting for their children to arrive.

 

Once their keiki entered the courtyard with their caregivers, the children’s mothers greeted them with big smiles, hugs and kisses.

 

WCCC and Wellspring Covenant Church hosted an Easter Kids’ Day event for 10 mothers, 19 children and 11 caregivers Saturday, April 5, 2025.

 

For three-and-a-half hours, mothers and their children enjoyed decorating eggs and bunny-shaped cookies. They also played games as numerous bubbles from a bubble machine filled the air.

 

Six women who recently earned their certificate from the Kapiʻolani Community College (KCC) Culinary Arts Program prepared and served a delicious lunch of focaccia bread cheese pizza, chili and cheese flying saucers and musubis.

 

KCC Culinary Arts Program instructor Chef Lee Shinsato, who teaches the course at WCCC, assisted graduates with food preparation at the event with fellow chefs from the Culinary Arts Program.

 

The culinary arts’ graduates also prepared and served sweet treats of scones, cheesecake brownies, apple turnovers, snickerdoodles, chocolate chip coookies and chocolate croissants to Kids’ Day participants.

 

Twenty-seven church volunteers and five incarcerated women who helped at the event organized an easter egg hunt for the children in the courtyard. Mothers helped their children open toy eggs filled with candy and raffle tickets. Children handed their raffle tickets to volunteers where each child picked new toys to bring home.

 

Donations from Wellspring and its community partners made the event possible.

 

WCCC has partnered with Wellspring for more than 20 years on Kids’ Day events. “Kids’ Day is a special event for women and their children to spend time bonding with one another,” said WCCC Warden Ione “Noni” Guillonta.

 

The Rev. Rebecca Stringer of Wellspring Covenant Church said they are honored to be a part of Kids’ Day. “Just to be involved in a small capacity as a small church, knowing that we don’t have to do huge, big things in order to make a difference in our world around us. Sometimes it’s just as small as showing up and giving the gift of connection between a mom and her kid.”

 

Today’s Kids’ Day event is the first one of the year at WCCC. The facility hosts the event four to five times a year with various faith-based and nonprofit organizations.

 

Director Tommy Johnson of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DCR) attended the event where he greeted incarcerated mothers, children, volunteers and staff.

 

“Events like this help strengthen the bond between mother and child,” said Director Johnson. “Kids’ Day could not be possible without our dedicated staff at WCCC and community partners.”

 

Supporting mothers and fathers to maintain relationships with their children aids in rehabilitation.

 

Waiawa Correctional Facility is scheduled to host an Easter Keiki Day event, in collaboration with Keiki O Ka ʻĀina, for incarcerated fathers and their children on Sunday, April 6, 2025.

 

Hālawa Correctional Facility is also hosting its first Keiki Day on Saturday, April 12, 2025.

 

Photos and videos of Saturday’s Kids’ Day event are available at the following link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1D3vAHodtk5nn4PjxaZDFSUHicfNy0BoV?usp=sharing

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Media Contact:

Rosemarie Bernardo

Public Information Officer

Hawai‘i Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

Office: 808-587-1358

Cell: 808-683-5507

Email: [email protected] 

Website: https://dcr.hawaii.gov