WCCC and Faith-based Organization host Kids’ Day to Support Keiki of Incarcerated Mothers

HONOLULU — On a Saturday morning, the four-year-old daughter of inmate Anastasia Kalama ran toward her mother once the child entered the Women’s Community Correctional Center’s (WCCC) Maunawili Cottage courtyard with her brother, sister and grandmother.

With a bright smile and arms outstretched, Kalama joyfully picked her youngest daughter up and held her in a long embrace. The mother of three also hugged and kissed her two other children.

It was the first time Kalama saw her children since January.

WCCC and Wellspring Covenant Church hosted Kids’ Day for 12 mothers and 26 children Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, at the facility’s Maunawili Cottage courtyard. The event theme was “Giving Thanks.”

During the three-and-a-half hour event, keiki and their mothers enjoyed games, arts and crafts and face painting facilitated by approximately 25 church volunteers as well as seven incarcerated women who volunteered to help at the event.

Volunteers invited mothers and their children to write messages of things they are grateful for on small pieces of leaf-shaped construction paper. The messages were tied to a tree that Wellspring volunteers brought to WCCC for the event as a visual representation of connection.

“Today is really about keiki and their moms and connecting the two of them. There’s so much separation that has occurred already in their relationship together and yet at the same time there’s so much love and resiliency and hope,” said the Rev. Rebecca Stringer of Wellspring Covenant Church.

“Events like Kids’ Day, when moms and their kids are able to be together, not only is their love given and shared which can help overcome trauma and help increase resiliency and help create hopeful futures, but it helps create a vision for what their life can be from now on,” Stringer added. “Each time their kids come, there can continue to be like love and connection and it can give them a hint for what one day life could be like when they’re no longer here but they’re able to be where their kids are.”

Wellspring has worked with WCCC for more than 20 years on Kids’ Day events.

WCCC hosts the event several times a year with various faith-based and non-profit organizations to help mothers maintain their bonds with their keiki. During the event, families also enjoyed a barbecue lunch of hamburgers, hot dogs, chips and cupcakes. Donations from Wellspring and its community partners made the event possible.

Director Tommy Johnson of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DCR) attended the event where he spoke with incarcerated mothers, children, volunteers and staff. “I think events like this help strengthen and reinforce the bond between mother and child,” said Director Johnson, adding that he appreciates the volunteers who organized the event. “Volunteers and staff play an integral role to make events like this successful.”

Waiawa Correctional Facility also hosts a keiki day for incarcerated fathers and their children. Johnson noted the Hālawa Correctional Facility is working with a non-profit organization to host a similar event at the facility in the near future. DCR is also looking into having Kids’ Day events at other correctional facilities in Hawai‘i.
“I think programs like this help with rehabilitation for inmates,” Johnson said.

Photos and videos of Saturday’s Kids’ Day event are available at the following link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1OtXGAIyJ-wQxKPIWJ7dGNc1GhZGra5HH.

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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