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Female Inmates See Family on Christmas

By Tracy Gladden

KAILUA (KHNL) -- Christmas for prisoners in Hawaii was a quiet affair and some lucky prisoners got visits from their family.

It was a different type of family reunion. For some it's been years since they've seen their loved ones.

This year, a familiar touch is the best feeling.

Some inmates at the Women's Community Correctional Center got to spend this holiday visiting with their family members.

"For Christmas, this is the present that I would want is for my family to be here," said Lisia Talakai of Pilo.

Nina Kealoha of Pearl city said, "I came in 2004, I got indicted, and he was six days old. So yeah, and he's three so we're trying to get back together."

Christmas can be a tough time for prisoners who don't have visitors and are far from home.

"Inside here, some of the girls cheer up the other girls, you know, make them feel like it's ok, you know were still here family here," Talakai said.

"They try and keep us from being sad because we all miss our family," said Kealoha.

The women received gift bags from the prison chaplin and Christmas desert will be ice cream but the women say seeing their families is the best present of all.

She says seeing the three-month-old daughter she gave birth to in prison gives her hope for the future

Christina Riley of Maui held on to her daughter.

"This is my first baby so I need to do what I need to do and get out of here so I can take care of her. It makes it a lot easier for me to do my time."