HONOLULU — Following a special performance of “Prison Monologues” Friday by five female inmates at Women’s Community Correctional Center in Kailua, several inmate writers, past and present, dedicated the eighth volume of “Hulihia Journal” of prison writings. The Prison Writing
HONOLULU — Following a special performance of “Prison Monologues” Friday by five female inmates at Women’s Community Correctional Center in Kailua, several inmate writers, past and present, dedicated the eighth volume of “Hulihia Journal” of prison writings.
The Prison Writing Project began nine years ago as a small creative writing class at WCCC. The dramatic presentations in the WCCC Maunawili Courtyard served to showcase the work of female inmates over the years. They regularly perform for Hawai‘i schools and other organizations.
“Using literature, poetry, biography, film and music, the students learn to write about themes in their own lives,” said Prison Writing Project Director Pat Clough. “They learn to address their fears, longings, anger and shame, using their own words to progress through self-discovery and healing.”
Since 2003, classes have been held twice a week for both beginning writers and advanced students. The inmate stories are published in a journal of prison writings called Hulihia, which means “to transform.”
“It’s very encouraging to see these women turn their stories of pain into stories of hope,” said Public Safety Director Ted Sakai. In 2008, “Prison Monologues” was born when the creative writing classes hosted its first journal dedication in the prison facility’s courtyard. A board member of La Pietra Hawai‘i School for Girls was in the audience that day. The event led to an invitation to eight inmates from the creative writing class to give a dramatic presentation of their writings at a Hawai‘i School for Girls assembly.
The 2012 group consists of five inmates who have to meet rigorous criteria in order to be chosen for a place in the monologues cast. They must do well in the creative writing class, maintain good behavior at the facility, work hard on their presentation skills, and earn a status that allows them to leave the prison for performances.
“The creative writing class, through the voices of ‘Prison Monologues’, has become its own successful program,” said WCCC Warden Mark Patterson. “It’s transforming the lives of the women within WCCC.”
So far, the “Prison Monologues” has presented 30 performances at high schools and universities.
The participants were invited to perform at a recent ‘Aha Wahine Conference in O‘ahu. Prison Monologues will travel to Maui in the near future. Video clips from the “Prison Monologues” performance can be seen on YouTube.
