Six women at the Women’s Community Correctional Center (WCCC) who recently earned their certificates from Kapiʻolani Community College’s Culinary Arts Program, helped create a day of connection and celebration on April 5, preparing and serving lunch and desserts for incarcerated mothers and their children during the center’s first Kids’ Day event of 2025.
The culinary graduates worked alongside Kapiʻolani CC Chef Instructors Lee Shinsato, Dan Wetter and Sheylen Say to prepare a menu that featured focaccia bread cheese pizza, chili cheese flying saucers and musubis. Their sweet offerings included scones, cheesecake brownies, apple turnovers, snickerdoodles and chocolate croissants.
“The women were so excited and eager to use their newly learned skills at this event,” said Shinsato. “Inspiring and showing future culinary students that there is a purpose behind learning and moving forward in life was a major factor in participating in this event.”
Hosted by WCCC and Wellspring Covenant Church, the Easter-themed Kids’ Day welcomed 10 mothers, 19 children, and 11 caregivers to the Maunawili Cottage courtyard for crafts, games, and family time. Mothers and children decorated eggs and bunny-shaped cookies, played games, and participated in a festive Easter egg hunt filled with toy eggs, candy, and raffle tickets redeemable for toys.
“Events like this help strengthen the bond between mother and child,” said Director Tommy Johnson of the Hawaiʻi Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. “Kids’ Day could not be possible without our dedicated staff at WCCC and community partners.”
The women who helped to prepare the Kids Day meal received their Kapiʻolani CC culinary certificates in December 2024 during a special graduation ceremony at WCCC, in front of more than 30 family members and supporters.
Shinsato added, “The women’s attitudes and capacity for learning are second to none. Once they figure out that food and hospitality are what make Hawaiʻi special, they start to realize that these new skills will be the new foundation for success in their lives.”
