The Maui News

The founder of the worldwide Women’s Marches four years ago, Maui resident Teresa Shook, will be the keynote speaker at this year’s Women’s March Maui on Saturday in Kahului with most activities on the front lawn of UH-Maui College.

The march begins at 9 a.m. and starts and ends at the college. As in the past, the route has 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 return to the college. Police will be providing traffic control at intersections.

Shook will be speaking preceding the march at 8:45 a.m. Lei’ohu Ryder will lead the opening ceremony. There will be entertainment with Awesomystics, Skylar Masuda, Struck by Seda, Ono Maui Shakespeare, Deborah Vial Band, Eliza and Shea Derrick’s Band.

There will be food trucks and information booths, which will open at 8 a.m. Activities end at noon. Attendees are urged to bring a chair or blanket to sit on as well as a water bottle, which can be refilled at the event. Parking is limited so carpooling is urged.

The Women’s March Maui Coalition is organizing the event; its board members include Marnie Masuda-Cleveland, Kelli Blair Swan, Sherry Alu Campagna and founding board member Shook.

Organizers are expecting 1,000-plus marchers. The number of participants has dwindled since the first march in 2017 that drew 5,000 people. In 2018, about 3,500 people showed up and 2,000 last year.

March officials acknowledged the dwindling attendance. Last year, a rift at the national level over reported anti-Semitic activities by national co-chairs led Shook to step away from the march. Changes have been made and Shook is back as a participant in the march, her brainchild.

“Women’s March isn’t just about one organization,” march organizers said in a statement. “Women’s March is comprised of many sister organizations and other grassroots organizations that are committed to justice. Women’s March is just the umbrella under which many organizations were born.”

This includes March On, MoveOn, Women’s March Action, Matriarchy Rising (Big Island) and Women’s March Global.

“We are all-inclusive of every level of activism that means to ensure equal rights for all humans,” the statement said.

The primary goal this year “is to energize voters to turn in those voter registration ballots this year,” the statement said. “There has never been a more critical time to be active in our democratic process.” They cited attacks on immigrants and women’s rights and other changes made by President Donald Trump’s administration.