Women & Children Programs
Supporting Women In Prison
Courses, Events & Activities
Pre-Transition Course
A 12 week curriculum focused on life success planning for women about to exit prison and connecting resources to actual needs.
Pūʻā began the course at WCCC in May 2014 and at the Federal Detention Center in January 2016. The curriculum and coursework has been approved and accepted by the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
Cultural Healing and Well Being Course
A 12-week curriculum focused on sharing Native Hawaiian culture and history. Pūʻā Foundation’s community educational resources are used in the class – Ua Mea Ke Ea Textbook and DVD.
As part of the class and working with other courses at WCCC, the Foundation has been sponsoring the Hoʻike Huliʻau event - Hōʻike means – to show, exhibit and Huliau means – turning point, time of change. This is an annual event that highlights transformation through women sharing their personal stories from the various courses or activities they have participated in at WCCC. There is a showcase of talents of dance, singing, music and storytelling. Pūʻā Foundation organizes a community gathering and provides dinner before the main event. The first year Hōiʻke Huliau was presented was 2013.
Supporting Women Exiting Prison
Housing, Vocational and Professional Development Opportunities
Mercy House
Mercy House is a tangible resource and a collaborative movement providing transitional housing and support for women exiting prison and re-entering the community. Pūʻā Foundation, the Catholic Diocese, parishes, community organizations, WCCC and Hawaii Paroling Authority have collaborated to establish the Mercy House. The first resident was accepted December 2016.
See more about the Mercy House in this 4 minute video
Peer Support Specialist Certification Program
Connected to the Mercy House is the PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST CERTIFICATION PROGRAM.
See more below – the Dec. 2019 Cohort #1 Peer Support Specialist Training – Graduation Ceremony Photo & midweek article. As of May 2021 – six members of Cohort #1 have completed all requirements by the Dept. of Health for full certification, and four completed advanced Forensic Peer Support Training and Peer Support Supervisory Training. As of December 2021 – four members of Cohort #1 have completed Train-the-Trainers Training and are prepared to assist with future training of other Peer Support Specialist. As of September 2024 - the Peer Support Kōkua Project engaged in training, internship placement, DOH certification and employment placement on Oahu and Hawaii Island. As of March 2025 - Maui outreach, training, and internship placement began.
Mar. 2025 - Maui Peer Support Specialist Training Graduation
Dec. 2019 - Oahu Peer Support Specialist Training Graduation
OLA: Pu’a Foundation’s Push for Peer Support
Article by Toni Bissen, Executive Director of Pu’a Foundation.
Reentry Partnership Collaborative
Connected to Mercy House and other housing providers, partnering efforts to provide peer support services. In development is Case Management and Therapeutic Services resulting in – HOUSING & PEER SUPPORT CONNECTION, WITH OTHER SUPPORT SERVICES.
INCARCERATION to INDEPENDENCE – CONTINUUM
Housing, Peer Support Connection with Case Management & Therapy
Waimanalo Community Farming Project
The Waimanalo Community Farming Project (WCFP) has a theme, “Malama Aina a me Malama Kanaka” (Care for the land and it will take care of you).
The WCFP incorporates ahupuaʻa land management approaches, Native Hawaiian traditional and cultural practices and farming best practices. WCFP objectives include: Working Together (Kākou), Healing, Health and Wellness (Olakino Maikaʻi) and Service (Kōkua). Support is provided for women in prison and those reentering community through ʻaina based healing experiences and vocational skill building.
The WCFP is set on 8 acres of land and the produce grown is to be shared with the community homeless and hunger outreach. Women on the workline from WCCC have been participating since 2017. There was limited access in 2020 due to the pandemic. In 2021 things are getting better. Seeds of love are being planted at the farm, and hands come together to malama aina.
Keiki / Family Day Event
STAR LIGHT, STAR BRIGHT CHRISTMAS EVENT AT THE WOMEN’S COMMUNITY CORRECTIONAL CENTER -
“The opportunity to share God’s love with others,” was expressed by one of the volunteers at the Saturday, 12/7/24 Starlight Star Bright (SLSB) Keiki Day Christmas Event at the Women’s Community Correctional Center (WCCC). This volunteer happened to be a freshman from Sacred Hearts Academy, who participated in the event for the first time sharing the gift of hula, along with five other students grades 7th, 8th, and 9th.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Honolulu for over 20 years has led SLSB at WCCC, a prison ministry involving parish volunteers and community partnerships that bring together mothers at WCCC, their children, and the caregivers to celebrate family with each other during the holiday season. Funds are raised to pay all event expenses, including support for the participation of families from islands other than Oahu.
Due to COVID and construction at the Women’s prison, the in-person SLSB event was put on hold for three years. December 2023 marked the beginning of bringing back the event, and for this year the event was full blown with Bishop Larry Silva, and the Director of Corrections and Rehabilitation,Tommy Johnson in attendance. Working with WCCC, and the community partner, the Pūʻā Foundation, volunteer helpers from the Sisters of the Congregation of Sacred Hearts, Mary Star of the Sea Parish Choir, Sacred Hearts Academy students, St. George Church, Waimanalo, St. Ann’s Church, Kaneohe, and the Lay Marianist Community associated with Mystical Rose Oratory, Kaimuki all came together to contribute to the success of the return of SLSB.
There were nearly 90 people gathered, including 38 WCCC mothers, caregivers, and keiki, 30 volunteers, 17 WCCC workline members and staff celebrating food, fellowship, fun, and family. Families were flown in from Maui and Hawaii Island. The day began with the greeting of entering families, and the children running into the arms of their awaiting mothers. After the blessing of the day, there was a puppet show, choir singing, a hula performance, sharing from peer supports, games, crafts, face painting, popcorn, shave ice, lei making, lomi massage for the caregivers, and pictures with Santa.
Bishop Larry blessed the food for the luncheon feast, with Director Johnson sharing words of encouragement. Families spent three-and-a-half hours together playing, eating, singing and laughing, enjoying each other's company. According to Director Johnson “events like this for the mothers and the children, staff and volunteers, it reinforces one, the bonds between the mother and child and two, it lets them see that there are other people out there that care about them that want them to succeed,” He continued by thanking the staff and volunteers for their dedication and hard work organizing the event. “We couldn’t have done this without them,” Johnson said.
Bishop Larry said the closing blessing, and Santa and his elf passed out the presents to the families upon their exit from the prison. It was truly an event that God’s love was shared by all.