#coalition against domestic violence

A Horse & Rider theme contest challenges riders to dress up in the paniolo tradition with a matching Proud to Wear Purple theme for their horses. Purple is the color chosen to help spread awareness of domestic violence.

Event organizers note that Maui County police respond to more than 4,000 incidents of domestic violence each year.

The event, hosted by the Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence comes as the county faces a 37% increase in intimate partner violence in 2011 over 2010, according to coordinator, Alicia Yang.