Maui Observes Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Candlelight vigil. File photo by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Osher

The public is invited to a candlelight vigil being held this week in observance of October as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

The community event begins at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 9, on the front lawn of the Kalana O Maui Building in Wailuku.

Organizers say the vigil helps to build awareness that domestic violence is not okay.

“I think it’s important for our community to do what we can to end domestic violence,” said Mahina Martin, a volunteer organizer of the event.

According to Martin, the Maui vigil will serve to both remember victims who lost their lives to domestic violence, and support survivors as well.

The vigil will be preceded by a sign waving event beginning at 4:30 p.m. on High Street in Wailuku.

Featured speakers include a survivor and representatives of the Maui County Domestic Violence Task Force.  Other members of the task force include law enforcement agencies, non-profit organizations, and community advocates.

Last year, organizers of the event noted that Maui County police respond to more than 4,000 incidents of domestic violence each year.