SEVEN WOMEN AT WCCC GRADUATE FROM CARPENTRY PRE-APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM
HONOLULU — The Women’s Community Correctional Center (WCCC) hosted a graduation ceremony Thursday, April 24, 2025, at the Hoʻokipa Cottage patio for seven women who earned a certificate after completing the Carpentry Pre-Apprenticeship Program.
The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DCR) funds the program through a partnership with the Honolulu Community College (HCC) and Hawaiʻi Carpenters Apprenticeship & Training Fund (HCATF).
The graduates join a growing community of individuals from correctional facilities who have transformed their futures through skilled trade education. The program provides the women pathways to financial independence and careers in a traditionally male-dominated field.
WCCC Warden Ione “Noni” Guillonta said, “It’s about breaking barriers.” The pre-apprenticeship program is a foundation for the graduates to build a future for themselves, Guillonta added.
During the ceremony, graduate Ashley Nihipali thanked HCATF instructors’ Leo Clemente and Robert Locquiao on behalf of her fellow graduates. “I appreciate the opportunity that you guys gave to us,” Nihipali said.
Through the program, Nihipali said she acquired new tools that she can use in the real world. “I appreciate you guys a lot,” she added.
After the ceremony, Nihipali said she plans to continue her education and enter the Hawaiʻi Carpenters Apprenticeship Program upon release.
Participants in the six-week program acquire essential carpentry skills including mathematics, blueprint reading, framing and drywall installation. Students are also trained in Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards.
Director Tommy Johnson of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said, “This program is an example of the department’s focus on rehabilitation and preparing those in our custody and care to have a smooth transition when they reenter the community upon release.”
During the ceremony, Director Johnson addressed the graduates: “This is the beginning of a journey to education, to learning viable skills.” “We’re here to help you succeed,” he added.
HCATF Executive Director Edmund Aczon also addressed the women, applauding them for their achievements. “You are living proof that strength, determination and perseverance can shape futures — just as wood and nails can build a home. Through six weeks of hard work, learning and pushing past challenges, you have not only gained skills, but you have built a foundation for new possibilities,” Aczon said. “Carpentry is more than just measuring and cutting. It is about creating something meaningful. And just like the projects you have worked on; you are crafting a future where you can stand tall with pride.”
A total of 31 participants — 13 women from WCCC and 18 men from the Waiawa Correctional Facility — have completed the pre-apprenticeship program since its inception in 2023. Of the 31 graduates, three men and three women are working as indentured apprentices with the Hawaiʻi Regional Council of Carpenters at job sites across the state.
Roseanne Propato, Corrections Education Program Manager for the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, said, “Through carpentry, incarcerated women are not just building skills, they’re building futures. The pre-apprenticeship program offers them a chance to craft not only wood, but also a path to independence, self-worth and new opportunities beyond the prison walls.”
During the ceremony, WCCC Acting Education Supervisor Kahaʻe Maikai-Iakopo said, “Each of these remarkable women has shown significant growth and courage, seizing the opportunity to sharpen their skills.” Each student also showed incredible inner strength which has transcended to empowerment and self-discovery, she added.
Photos of the graduation ceremony are available at the following link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ggo3RSK32OSQCj8RU50l0-tZEwPGAT0i?usp=sharing.
Media Contacts:
Rosemarie Bernardo
Public Information Officer
Hawai‘i Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
Office: 808-587-1358
Cell: 808-683-5507
Email: Rosemarie.Bernardo@hawaii.gov
Website: https://dcr.hawaii.gov
Julie Hirano Kaneko for the
Hawaiʻi Carpenters Apprenticeship & Training Fund
Phone: 808-469-6846
Email: juliek@aiohawaii.com