WCCC Kids Day 2008

It was a special weekend for inmates at the women's prison in Kailua.
They were allowed to spend some extra time with their kids and grandkids.
Behind this barb-wire fence, 240 women are serving time behind bars.
"I've been locked up for about 5 years now, I'm in for some drug charges," said inmate Lisia Talakai.
Lisia Talakai also spent time in Kentucky and hasn't seen her son since he was a baby.
Now, eight years later, the two embrace each other.
"I saw him come by the gate, oh my god, I was crying, really crying, cause it's been a long time," Talakai said.
"I started crying cause I missed her a lot," said her 10-year-old son Jerome Talakai-Kanowlton.
About 80 percent of the inmates housed at the Women's Community Correctional Center in Kailua are mothers.
"So when we have these kind of events, they can actually drop the whole offender mask, and just be the women, the woman, or the mother that they are or grandmother," said WCCC Warden Mark Patterson.
For the first time, grandmothers were given the chance to see their grandkids, an opportunity to make up for lost time.
"Ahh, just want to grab them and play with them. Love them. Teach em things, I guess, you know, it's my day now, it's my day, that I get to play with them," said inmate Deborah Mainaaupo.
Good food, games and even a special surprise from the Marines, all for Mother's Day.
For every hug, kiss and every smile, the warden said he sees hope in the eyes of the women.
"I decided to make a point in my life where it's time to change already cause I don't want to come back here," Talakai said.
No one does. And the hope is, no one will.
This is just one of only four times a year that mothers are allowed extended visits with their children.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• WCCC
• Kids
• Day
• Kailua
• Hawaii
• womens
• prison