A day for keiki and mothers to celebrate their love

HONOLULU (KHON2) — On a balmy summer morning in Honolulu, inmate Shyrae Naihe hugged her 14-year-old daughter as she and other children arrived to spend time at the Women’s Community Correctional Center (WCCC).

On July 20, WCCC and Keiki O Ka ‘Āina Family Learning Centers hosted a special “Christmas in July” event for 12 mothers and their 14 beloved keikis.

The courtyard was decorated in Christmas style and volunteers organized fun games like water balloon throwing and a donut eating contest, as well as tasty treats like shaved ice.

For three and a half hours, the mothers and their children played together and enjoyed a barbecue lunch of hot dogs, hamburgers, ice cream, chips and cupcakes.

Under a tent, mothers and volunteers helped children select toys such as Legos and Squishmallows donated by various community groups.

Tommy Johnson, director of the prison, said events like this help maintain the bond between mothers and their children, which is important when the mothers leave prison.

“We are very excited to bring this day of joy to our inmates,” Johnson said. “It’s not only a time to build bonds, but also a time to think about how you want to live your life after you’re released.”

Director Ione “Noni” Guillonta agreed, saying it was crucial for mothers to stay connected with their families.

“Maintaining those family connections is one of the most important things we can do for our inmates,” Guillonta explained. “It gives them a goal to work toward and a goal to maintain after they’re released.”

Guillonta, who has worked in the prison system since 1990, was excited about the resumption of Kids’ Day events.

“I really feel like this is my calling,” she said. “I’m so excited that this Children’s Day is starting up again. This is just the beginning and there will be a lot more family and community interactions with our ladies, so I’m really pleased with the turnout so far.”

Family members, who usually care for the children, brought the children to the event. Momi Akana, the director of Keiki O Ka ‘Āina, said that close family ties prevent parents from committing crimes again.

“We’ve been in prison for a little over 20 years now and we just love Children’s Day at the women’s prison to see the mothers and children together,” Akana said. “It’s the best family activity we can have. It heals the kids. They’re so excited. They should see them. They run down the path and wait outside to see their mothers. They’re super happy. Mothers are happy. It keeps the family together.”

Akana emphasized the importance of these events for the community. “It’s good in three ways: 100% good for the mother. It gives her a goal and a purpose to get out and get well again. It helps the children heal and know that the mother is OK. And for the community: The mothers will return to our communities and we need to support them and show them love.”

Marina is a recreation specialist on the WCCC campus. She spoke about how activities help inmates build bonds and increase their well-being.

“I’m in charge of sports. We do fitness classes, yoga, hula and games. Right now we have a volleyball tournament. It’s really fun,” she said. “With women, you have to be able to share your feelings, train together and have support. They work in teams to solve problems. They just open up and get through this time together.”

Marina noticed the positive impact these activities had on the inmates’ daily lives.

“If we have a fitness class or yoga class in the morning, they can breathe easy for the rest of the day. There aren’t as many arguments and I can hear them laughing and sharing. That’s what wellness can do. I’m happy to make that possible and continue doing what I love.”

The event also featured touching moments from mothers. Rochelle Guyer, a mother, shared her hopes for her daughter.

“My greatest wish for her would be everything. I wish her everything, everything I couldn’t have, everything she can have and I know she can. That’s what I wish for her. Not that, that’s not what I wish for her,” Michelle said. “Those childhood days are probably one of the best things about prison, being able to see her when she comes to visit.”

Lena, another mother, expressed her hopes for her children.

“My biggest hope for my daughters is that they’re just better than me, that they do better than I’ve ever done in my life,” she said. “Days like this, like the children’s days and visits, are really important to me, especially because before I came here, I was always surrounded by my children. Now that I’m here, I only get Saturday visits and then Children’s Day. Last year we only had Children’s Day once. This year, I think we’ve had it about six times. They look forward to it especially.”

Kaile, another mother, shared her thoughts on the significance of Children’s Day.

“My greatest hope for my children is that they succeed in life and feel loved and protected,” she said. “When the children come here, they can lean on me and love me. We spend several hours together, as opposed to normal visits that only last an hour. Here we can play games and have lunch together. It’s like a day with them.”

Momi Akana emphasized the long-term benefits of these events.

“We have held this event three times this year and each time I am touched by how much this helps both our community and the inmates and their families in the long term,” she said. “Engaging families and strengthening relationships is the best way to ensure parents do not re-offend.”

The event was made possible through donations from Keiki O Ka ‘Āina and community partners. These contributions help create a supportive environment where families can strengthen their bonds, providing hope and a brighter future for both inmates and their children.