HONOLULU — At the Hālawa Correctional Facility (HCF), inmate Mohomiid Wicks stood in front of a pastel-colored balloon archway at an entrance to a courtyard when his 5-year-old son walked in.

Once the child spotted Wicks, he yelled “Dad’ in excitement and dashed toward him.

The 46-year-old father kneeled on one knee as he wrapped his arms around his son and 7-year-old daughter, holding them in a long embrace.

The Hālawa Correctional Facility, in collaboration with Keiki O Ka ʻĀina (KOKA) Family Learning Centers, hosted Easter Keiki Day — the first Keiki Day at the facility — for four fathers, 10 children and grandchildren, three adult children and eight caregivers on Saturday, April 12, 2025.

The event was significant for the fathers because they were able to have physical contact with their children. Generally, all visits at the facility are non-contact visits where fathers and their loved ones are separated by a glass window and communication is conducted via telephone. Non-contact visits also include video visitation via a tablet.

Keiki Day was an incentive for eligible fathers who exhibited good behavior and completed parenting classes.

Staff and volunteers had decorated the courtyard with Easter inflatable decorations, pastel-colored balloons and banners for the event.

For more than three hours, children enjoyed decorating cookies with their fathers and taking family photos together with the Easter Bunny. They also played games, arts and crafts and tossed a frisbee to one another.

Families sat together for lunch that included a bento of chicken, rice, hot dogs and spam. Lunch also included pizza, assorted fresh cut fruits topped with whipped cream, and shave ice.

Facility staff worked closely with KOKA to organize the event. Director Tommy Johnson of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said, “We are grateful to all of our staff members and volunteers who made this event possible.”

Fathers and their children also participated in an Easter egg hunt where fathers helped their children and grandchildren pick up eggs in the grassy area of the courtyard. Keiki also received a gift bag of new toys donated by KOKA and community partners.

HCF Warden Shannon Cluney said it’s important for fathers to maintain a relationship with their children as the men will eventually return to the community upon their release. It’s all about family reunification, Cluney said, noting that the facility plans to have two additional Keiki Day events later this year.

Executive Director Momi Akana of Keiki O Ka ʻĀina Family Learning Centers said, “In Hawaiʻi, having a parent in jail affects over 6,000 children. Studies show that children who stay in touch with their incarcerated parents are more likely to do well and less likely to get into trouble. Research also shows that good family connections can help reduce repeat offenses by 30 percent.”

Events like Keiki Day help fathers maintain their bond with their children, Akana added.

Photos and videos of the Easter Keiki Day event are available at the following link:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1cgEvHL9eFzrebKIe5oze4M0c938okOtp?usp=sharing.

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