University of Hawaii schools are doing their part to battle “period poverty” by providing access to free menstrual products for students.
Last year, the state Senate passed a resolution urging the UH system to offer the products at all of its campuses statewide at the start of the 2023 fall semester.
Period poverty refers to the lack of access to menstrual and hygiene products, which disproportionately affects menstruating students, especially those in low-income households.
The resolution passed after the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women and the nonprofit Ma‘i Movement conducted a survey in 2021 that found 42% of respondents reported they had to leave class due to lack of access to menstrual products.
Hawaii Community College in the fall began providing products like tampons, pads, liners and wipes to its students at the Kahuaola Basic Needs Center.
According to the program coordinator, Craig Mitchell, Kahuaola gives out about 1,500 period products per semester.
“Period poverty is a significant issue facing our students and their families. Students have shared that they would like the campus to provide products,” Mitchell said. “The institution has heard the call and is taking steps to make these items consistently available in our pantry and restrooms.”
HCC receives the products and care packages from the Ma‘i Movement and through donations.
Along with period products, Kahuaola Basic Needs Center offers free food, clothing, contraception, toiletries, as well as information about other resources that are available.
“We’ve had homeless students who have expressed that this is where they get all their food and feminine products,” said Kahuaola employee and UH-Hilo student Tymika Pajimola. “Many students have said it’s very helpful, especially if they get their period unexpectedly.”
HCC recently was awarded a basic needs grant from the Stupski Foundation. The grant will fund the purchase of dispensers for all three community college campuses. The dispensers should be installed soon, according to Mitchell.
Before the Senate resolution, most of restrooms at UH-Hilo contained free period products in 2022 after students Hannah Blue and Allison Dupre spent four semesters making a plan, submitting proposals and finding the funding needed to address menstrual equity on campus.
“After looking at student needs, UH-Hilo began providing (menstrual products) by partnering with a variety of community agencies,” said Interim Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Chris Holland. “We wanted to offer the products in all our restrooms and make sure that keeping up with supplies would not fall on the heels of students, but become institutionalized through the university.”
UH-Hilo now has 30 dispensers installed in women’s, men’s and gender-neutral restrooms around campus. UH Auxiliary Services stores and restocks the supplies and oversees the installation and repair of dispensers.
The Women’s Center and the student government at UH-Hilo also work to ensure students have access to menstrual equity resources and information.
Similarly to HCC, UH-Hilo also offers basic needs to students through Hale Lako, a student supply house that provides access to nonperishable food, school supplies, clothes and personal hygiene items.
“We want to continue meeting the holistic needs our students have and do our best to connect them to appropriate resources,” Holland said. “Along with meeting immediate needs, Hale Lako also provides information on community agencies that will help them outside of school.”
Both Hale Lako and Kahualoa provide information about affordable housing and child care, assist in SNAP-EBT applications and give referrals for other county and state programs.
Kahualoa accepts donations and can be found at the HCC Manono Campus in Building 379-A. For more information, visit go.hawaii.edu/bak.
Hale Lako is open from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays in the portable buildings by the Student Life Center at UH-Hilo.
Physical donations can be dropped off during operation hours or at the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resource Management office area breezeway any time or day of the week.
For more information about Hale Lako, visit hilo.hawaii.edu/halelako/.
Email Kelsey Walling at kwalling@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
