Hundreds are expected to gather this month when the Hilo Women’s March presents the Women’s Wave March and Rally.
Now in its third year, the Jan. 19 march will start from the state building, located at 75 Aupuni St. in Hilo.
While the day begins with sign making at 9 a.m., the march itself gets underway at 10 a.m.
Marchers will head from the State Building towards Kamehameha Avenue through Wailoa State Park to Pauahi Street, turn left onto Kamehameha Avenue towards downtown Hilo, left on Ponahawai Street, left on Kilauea Avenue, left on Pauahi and a right on Aupuni Street, to return to the state building parking lot.
A “Change Makers” rally and community resource fair follows from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Organizer Jennifer Kagiwada said the rally will feature speakers from the community “who make a difference in womens’ lives every day with the work they do.”
Each of the nine speakers will address the nine “Unity Principles” under which the Women’s March marches, she said. Those principles include immigrant rights, reproductive rights, LGBTQIA rights, environmental justice, workers’ rights, civil rights, disability rights, indigenous rights and ending violence.
Speakers include Pauline Victoria Aughe, Denby Toci, Lauren Broido, Destiny Rodriguez, Tulpe Day, Mireille Ellsworth, Terri Napeahi and others to be announced.
Local musical guests will also perform throughout the rally, Kagiwada said.
Nonprofits and other organizations who address one or more of those principles have also been invited to a resource fair following the rally.
Kagiwada said there will be information available and ways “people can get involved so that they can become change makers themselves.”
“The theme this year is ‘Women’s Wave’ and that’s alluding to the number of women who have run for and have supported women running for office, and who have been elected.”
The hope for the event, Kagiwada said, is to both celebrate the accomplishments women have had and to “inspire and rejuvenate people to continue working and … be involved in making improvements for women’s lives in our communities.”
Leading up to the march and rally is Women’s Wave Week, which in East Hawaii will feature various free community events, such as sign making, mural painting, a movie and concert.
Women’s Wave Week activities include:
• Sign-making activities, noon-5 p.m. Jan. 13, Kipaipai School of Art, 15-1963 Fourth Ave. in Hawaiian Paradise Park.
• Mural painting, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Jan. 14-16, Lincoln Park.
• Screening of “Miss Representation,” 7 p.m. Jan. 17, the University of Hawaii at Hilo.
• Women Rock! all-female rock concert, 7 p.m. Jan. 18, the Lava Shack in Pahoa.
According to Kagiwada, approximately 1,500-2,000 people attended last year’s march and organizers are hoping to see 1,500 people again this year.
The Women’s March on Washington, which was organized largely in response to President Donald Trump’s election victory, took place in Washington D.C. on Jan. 21, 2017, the day after he was inaugurated. Similar marches and protests took place around the country and world.
For more information about the march, rally or related events, visit Women’s March-Hawaii Island on Facebook facebook.com/womensmarchhawaiiisland or visit wmhilo.org.
Email Stephanie Salmons at ssalmons@hawaiitribune-herald.com.