Dozens of advocates recently held a sign waving event in Hilo to bring attention to the plight of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls.

The event was organized by the Hawaiʻi County Committee on the Status of Women, in collaboration with Going Home Hawai’i and He Ho’omaka Hou Ana O’ Puna. Attendees included domestic violence survivors, members of nonprofit organizations, government employees, the Hawaiʻi County Police Department, and community members. Some activists had signs and flags, and several had red handprints painted across their faces.

Shana Kukila, Vice Chair of the Hawaiʻi County Committee on the Status of Women, said her office spearheaded the event as a part of their Laulima Series, geared at creating awareness around the intersections of domestic violence.

According to the organizers, on Hawaii Island, Native Hawaiian children ages 15-17 represent the highest number of missing children’s cases, with the most children reported missing in Hilo zip code of 96720. From 2018-2021, there were 182 cases of missing Native Hawaiian girls on Hawaii Island, higher than any other racial group. Both statistics are attributed to the Hawaii Island Police Department in 2022, and are cited in the Missing and Murdered Native Hawaiian Women and Girls Task Force Report published by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs in 2023.

For more information on the Hawaiʻi County Committee on the Status of Women email hawaiicountycsw@gmail.com or visit the committeeʻs Facebook page at facebook.com/CSWHawaiʻiCounty

Photo credit: Hawaiʻi County Committee on the Status of Women Facebook page