WOMEN’S COMMUNITY CORRECTIONAL CENTER HOSTS GRADUATION CEREMONY FOR LANDSCAPING TECHNICIAN PREP PROGRAM
HONOLULU— The Women’s Community Correctional Center (WCCC) hosted a graduation ceremony at the facility plant nursery Friday, July 18, 2025, for eight women who completed the Windward Community College (WCC) Landscaping Technician Prep Program.
The graduates are the first cohort from WCCC to earn a certificate of professional development in the program from the WCC Office of Career and Community Education.
During the ceremony, Director Tommy Johnson of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DCR) congratulated the graduates for their commitment and dedication.
“They did a lot of work in such a short amount of time and they learned a lot about outdoor irrigation, about planting, pruning, all of those things that you need to be a successful landscaper,” Johnson said.
He thanked facility staff, Windward Community College, volunteers of the Lani-Kailua Outdoor Circle and the inmates’ participation in the program. “This program is one of the many innovative initiatives that the department and facilities have started to help inmates successfully reintegrate back into the community,” he added.
WCC Chancellor Ardis Eschenberg said, “Windward CC is so proud of our students at WCCC and our strong educational partnership with the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Our shared students are empowered to grow and acquire skills through the collaboration and hard work of both our teams.”
In the 54-hour program, instructors taught students about installation, maintenance and irrigation. In each topic, students engaged in in-class instruction and hands-on training.
Through the program, participants earned micro-credentials which recognizes their proficiency in exterior landscaping.
The course was developed in collaboration with the University of Hawai’i at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience (CTAHR) Cooperative Extension and taught by an industry expert.
WCCC Education Supervisor Kahaʻe Maikai-Iakopo said the program has equipped the women with valuable knowledge and skills in the landscaping field. The students dedicated themselves to their studies, benefitting from the expertise of instructor Alberto Ricordi and his assistant, Wai Lee, along with the support of security staff, Sgt. Ashley Haku Kamelamela and Adult Corrections Officer (ACO) Cyrusina Kahalewai.
Inmate Kailey Duarte, 29, said the program equipped her with a lot of knowledge about landscaping. “Being able to be hands-on and be trusted to do that hands-on, it filled us with confidence. That’s the kind of stuff that us women here need, to rebuild our confidence and how we think of ourselves,” Duarte said after the ceremony as she stood in the nursery.
WCCC Warden Ione “Noni” Guillonta applauded the graduates for demonstrating hard work and learning new skills. “(The program) is going to help them provide extra skills when they get out. We’re looking at trying to have them have a pipeline into them finding jobs before they get out so it’s an easier, smoother transition for them as they leave WCCC,” Guillonta said.
Maikai-Iakopo echoed Guillonta’s sentiment. “This program has been meticulously designed to equip students for a successful career in landscaping, providing them with a significant advantage in the competitive job market,” Maikai-Iakopo said.
Education Services Manager Roseanne Propato of the DCR Corrections Program Services Division said, “These women have shown dedication, resilience, and a willingness to grow, and we are proud to support them as they prepare for meaningful careers, whether it will be in landscaping, or other possibilities. They now have skills that they can take out into the community and share with their future neighbors.”
“Their success reminds us that with access to education and support, second chances can lead to lasting change,” Propato said.
Footage and photos of the graduation ceremony are available at the following link:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1bZUDmyluGNKGir3wX7EqKYhEibi52Tgr?usp=sharing.
The images are courtesy of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
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