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Maui will have its own Women's March on Jan. 21 to coincide with the beginning of the national march in Washington, D.C., which had its start with Hana resident Teresa Shook.
Shook was moved by the general election to create an events page for a march in the nation's capital a day after Donald Trump's inauguration. The event social media page exploded with participants. National feminists and experienced leaders have taken over the reins of the national event.
But, on Maui, the planning for the Valley Isle's march is still grass roots, led by a handful of female community leaders. It is sponsored by The Human Services Program and Malama Lahui Kanaka Club at University of Hawaii Maui College. The event is all-inclusive -- open to men and all races, religions and philosophies -- organizers said.
The event is planned from 8 a.m. to around 11 a.m. on the University of Hawaii Maui College campus front lawn facing Kaahumanu Avenue. Organizers ask people to arrive around 7:30 a.m. There will be an opening ceremony and prayer by Lei'ohu Ryder.
The march route will have marchers exiting the college campus at Kaahumanu Avenue, turning left and proceeding until the first traffic light and crosswalk leading to the entrance of the Queen Ka'ahumanu Center, where they will cross the road. Marchers will then continue on Kaahumanu Avenue toward Wakea Avenue, where they will turn right to cross Kaahumanu Avenue and then return to the college.
There will be sign-waving along with music, messages and an action team sign-up. Donations will be collected for the Maui Food Bank. The event is free, but tax-deductible donations will be collected for the Safe Keiki Project, which helps educate others about sexual assault of children as well as provide help for victims.
"I'm marching for a lot of reasons," said one of the Maui event organizers, Virginia "Virgie" Cantorna, a psychologist and head of the Safe Keiki Project.
"I am a woman of color, born to Filipino immigrant parents. I'm plus size. I have (lesbian, gay, bisexual, questioning and transgender) friends, family and patients. I have a daughter; I want to protect her from sexual assault."
"There is so many reasons why I'm marching," Cantorna said, alluding to Trump's rhetoric during the campaign that upset women and minorities.
Cantorna is not alone. She said organizers originally wondered if 30 people would show up. Now, organizers say that the Maui march will have at least 1,000 people.
Robin Pilus, one of the organizers of the Maui march, said, "We need to do something so we don't feel powerless."
She said that, like many other women, she was in tears after the election. Pilus held a pantsuit party at her house on election night. (The pantsuit is a popular symbol for Hillary Clinton.)
"It took a couple of weeks to actually come out of it," Pilus said of the shock she felt after the election.
Then she got involved with the planning of the Maui march and built its website. The Maui march is affiliated with the national march.
But, the planning of the march "is the beginning of the work," the Pukalani resident said.
"The work actually starts the day after the march."
She said that people have to be aware of what is going on at the nation's capital and stay informed on legislation.
For now, the Maui organizers, including Sara Patton, Jane Lovell and Gylian Solay, are busy putting together details of the event. This includes getting residents from Lanai and Molokai over to Maui for the march. Cantorna said there are limited assistance vouchers to help residents of those islands.
Kupuna and the disabled are encouraged to attend the Jan. 21 march. There will be volunteers to assist them, and participants may also spend time on the UH-MC lawn during the march.
The organizers have started a Go Fund Me page to raise money for the estimated $8,000 cost for the Maui event. They are also selling T-shirts on their website. Wristbands with the words "Love Trumps Hate" are available for $2 at Paradise Video in Kahului, Cantorna said.
Organizers said there are around 150 people from Maui who are going to Washington, D.C., for the national march. Ti-leaf lei are being made for the Maui folks as well as for others at the march.
For more information about or to register, volunteer or donate for for the Maui march, see womensmarchmaui.com. People seeking information about the flight assistance vouchers and other information may send email to mauiwomensmarch@hawaii.rr.com.
* Melissa Tanji can be reached at mtanji@mauinews.com.