KAHULUI — A sea of what appeared to be at least 5,000 people walked up and down Kaahumanu Avenue fronting the University of Hawaii Maui College waving signs and bursting out in cheers Saturday morning during the Women’s March on Washington — Maui.

Many shouted in protest against President Donald Trump, denouncing his leadership and attitude toward women. Others held signs calling for love, unity and equality.

It was the largest march the island had ever seen in recent memory — more than doubling a “Vote Yes” rally for the moratorium on genetically modified organisms in 2014, which drew more than 2,000 people in Kahului. Sparked by Hana grandmother Teresa Shook, more than 600 marches took place around the world with millions of men and women showing their support.

“I am just overwhelmed with pride and joy and hope,” said Maui organizer Virginia Cantorna. “Most of all, I am encouraged by all the countries that have joined with us and I think American women are paving the way for women of the world to be empowered to fight for their rights.”

The unifying principles of the marches were to end violence and protect women’s rights, immigrant rights, civil rights and LGBTQ rights, as well as fight for environmental justice, Cantorna said. She said that the march was set up to be a positive and peaceful demonstration.

“There was a wide variety of slogans on the signs,” she said. “Some very naughty ones and some very political ones and some talking about hope and unity and solidarity. There’s a wide variety, but that’s good.”

A group of South Maui women wore their signs around their necks along with bright-red, flowery headbands. The five friends provided their reasons for being in the march.

“Because I’m a woman who loves,” said Pat Hastings of Kihei.

“We believe in the power of love and if you’re not out today saying your truth, then you’re sitting down,” said Katherine Place of Wailea.

“Love is all there is and that’s what we’re sending out to the world and to President Trump,” said Kati Alexandra of Kihei.

All the signs the group wore reflected their views and they said they sought to provide “good energy, good love and positive expression.”

“They’re not disparaging in any way,” Place said. “We’re praying for everybody today. The people we agree with and the people we don’t agree with.”

Those prayers also include Trump.

“He’s receiving so much love and prayer, he’s not going to know what hit him,” Hastings said.

Other marchers did not display the same positivity.

Married Kihei couple Eileen McKee and Deborah Cohn held Hillary Clinton signs from the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. The couple said they were marching for Clinton and feared what the future might hold.

“We march to honor all the women who have marched before us and the fact that we still don’t have equal footing in this world and it might get a little worse underneath this administration,” Cohn said.

The couple said it is “frightening” that pages on LGBTQ rights and civil rights no longer exist on the White House website. However, their spirits were lifted by the sheer number of Maui residents who joined them at Saturday’s rally.

“We’ve done so many marches and, I’ll tell you, this is the biggest one we’ve ever seen on Maui,” McKee said. “We’re shocked because when we were fighting for our rights in marriage and civil unions, the first march we went to had 24 of us versus 300 anti-civil union.

“So this is just, this is incredible.”

A group of six moms and 14 kids also marched for equality and freedom of speech. Sarah Hurst of Kula said that she marched to ensure her son, Xander, 9, and daughter, Avayla, 2, keep their rights when they get older.

“I think strong women make strong communities,” Hurst said. “I hope that we’re heard. That the rights that are ours continue to stay ours and that they know we’re going to fight for our rights and we won’t just sit down and let them be taken from us.”

Men also got into the action, including friends Kevin Kastle of Haiku and Alec Stewart of Paia. Stewart wore a sign around his neck saying: “This is what a feminist looks like.”

“Donald Trump is on record bragging about sexual assault and I don’t think that’s OK,” Stewart said. “Any decent person should not be OK with that. I’m unhappy with the fact that we have someone running the nation who brags about assaulting women. I’m here showing women here that I support them and I think that women are people too. It’s insane that needs to be a statement, but it does where we are right now.”

Kastle said it is important for men to fight for women’s rights because men have the power. He said that the same can be said for Caucasians and African-Americans as well as heterosexual and homosexuals.

“There might be men out there who won’t listen to a woman, ‘Oh she’s just complaining,’ but they might listen to me when I say, ‘Hey, they do have something to complain about. It isn’t fair that they aren’t getting paid as much,’ ” Kastle said. “I think it’s important because men have more of the power in this country and should come out and fight for women.”

Although the march was over by Saturday afternoon, Cantorna emphasized that it only served as a launchpad to more rallies and movements on the island and across the nation. She said people should choose a cause, put action behind it, vote, start and sign petitions, communicate with lawmakers and understand their constitutional rights.

“It doesn’t end here,” she said. “People have to be activists. They have to put action behind their words today.”

* Chris Sugidono can be reached at csugidono@mauinews.com.