Governor Josh Green, M.D.

STATE OF HAWAIʻI

KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI

 

JOSH GREEN, M.D.

GOVERNOR

KE KIAʻĀINA

 

DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND REHABILITATION

KA ʻOIHANA HOʻOMALU KALAIMA A HOʻOPONOPONO OLA

 

TOMMY JOHNSON

DIRECTOR

KA LUNA HOʻOKELE

  

WCCC HOSTS FIRST ʻOHANA DAY FOR INMATES AND THEIR FAMILIES

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sept. 13, 2025

KAILUA, Oʻahu — The Women’s Community Correctional Center (WCCC) transformed its recreation field into a carnival for inmates and their families with a petting zoo, inflatable bounce house and games for the facility’s first ʻOhana Day event.

Approximately 100 people — more than 25 inmates and over 70 family members and loved ones — attended ‘Ohana Day Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025. Dedicated facility staff, volunteers and the Women’s Prison Project (WPP) made the festive occasion possible.

The Women’s Prison Project is a volunteer coalition led by former Gov. Linda Lingle that is dedicated to restorative justice for justice-involved women in Hawaiʻi.

WPP sponsored and funded the three-and-a-half-hour event where families enjoyed quality time together with carnival games facilitated by volunteers as well as a group of female inmates who dressed up in clown outfits. WCCC Chaplain Tammy Turcios also donated and helped set up colorful decorations for ʻOhana Day.

WPP member Diane Chen said they were thrilled to help support the event which was “a huge success” thanks to WCCC Ione “Noni” Guillonta, her staff and volunteers.

WPP member Edgy Lee played an instrumental role with the petting zoo’s presence at the carnival-themed event by connecting Nalo Keiki Paniolo of DLT Ranch, LLC with the correctional facility.

Nalo Keiki Paniolo volunteered their staff and animals that included bunnies, turtles, miniature goats and a miniature donkey for ʻOhana Day, bringing smiles to the women and their families. “It was really wonderful,” Lee said.

Keiki flocked to a tent where they selected game prizes of toys, candy, stuffed animals and other goodies to bring home. Families also enjoyed hot dogs, hamburgers, popcorn, shave ice and cupcakes.

Director Tommy Johnson of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation attended ʻOhana Day and thanked Guillonta, her staff and volunteers for their hard work organizing the event. “I think this first ever ʻOhana Day represents our paradigm shift from what some see as a punitive incarceration model to one that’s about restoration and reintegration,” Johnson said.

He also thanked the Women’s Prison Project for their steadfast support for the incarcerated women as well as the inmates’ families for showing their support. “That goes a long way to boost their morale and refocus them on what’s important which is reunification,” Johnson added.

Family support is crucial in reducing recidivism for justice-involved individuals during and after incarceration.

Events like ‘Ohana Day are immeasurable for the women to reunite and strengthen ties with their families, Guillonta said, noting that ʻOhana Day will be an annual event at WCCC.

The women need their family’s support to be successful when they reenter the community upon their release, she added.

ʻOhana Day footage and photos, courtesy of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, are available at the following link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1th0lzlY6pMs4_b-omBjzIvoBha6nNwjF?usp=sharing.

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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