KAILUA — Incarcerated mothers showered their children with hugs and kisses when they reunited at the Women’s Community Correctional Center (WCCC) Maunawili Cottage courtyard for a spooktacular Kids’ Day event.
The Women’s Community Correctional Center, in collaboration with Wellspring Covenant Church, hosted a Halloween-themed Kids’ Day for eight mothers, 12 children and 10 caregivers on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025.
Music from a portable stereo system filled the air in the courtyard that volunteers decorated with cobwebs and plastic spiders as mothers and their keiki spent quality time together playing volleyball and Halloween-themed games. Families also enjoyed face painting and arts and crafts during the three-and-a-half-hour event.
Several inmates who are currently students of the Kapiʻolani Community College (KCC) Culinary Arts Program prepared and served families a Halloween-themed lunch with mummified franks with chili and rice, mini pizzas and smash teriyaki burgers.
KCCC Culinary Arts Program Instructor Chef Lee Shinsato, who teaches the fundamentals of culinary arts to inmates at the correctional facility, assisted the students with food preparation with fellow KCCC chef instructors.
Mothers and their keiki also enjoyed pumpkin muffins, chocolate croissants, mango cream cheese and blueberry cream cheese scones, whole wheat almond croissants, coconut macaroons, apple turnovers and snickerdoodles prepared by the students.
Volunteers also served families shave ice during the event.
Director Tommy Johnson of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DCR) attended Kids’ Day where he greeted mothers and their children. He also thanked facility staff, church volunteers and inmates assisting with family activities for their hard work organizing Kids’ Day.
“Events like this are successful because of our dedicated staff at WCCC and community partners,” Johnson said. “Kids’ Day helps mothers maintain bonds with their children. It also serves as a reminder on what’s important and what to strive for — reunification with their families when they reenter the community upon their release.”
Wellspring Covenant Church sponsored the special event with donations from the community. WCCC has partnered with Wellspring for more than 20 years for Kids’ Day.
WCCC Warden Ione “Noni” Guillonta said, “These types of special events are crucial in strengthening bonds between mothers and their children.”
Pastor Cheryl Takabayashi of Wellspring Covenant Church said it’s a blessing to be part of Kids’ Day and see the joy and love between mothers and their children.
B-roll and photos of Kids’ Day, courtesy of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, are available at the following link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1j3ZtoBzbfvHhDWiqtLRsc_ONmx_d4ywK?usp=sharing.
Media contact:
Rosemarie Bernardo
Public Information Officer
Hawaiʻi Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
Office: 808-587-1358
Cell: 808-683-5507
Email:[email protected]
Website: https://dcr.hawaii.gov