LIHUE — Chloe Waipa is 10 years old. But already, she knows child abuse must be stopped, and she wants to do her part to make that happen.
So on Wednesday, Waipa joined others, including some from her Girl Scout Troop 823, to plant pinwheels in front of the YWCA in Lihue to raise awareness of Child Abuse Prevention and Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
It’s something she’s done for each of the last four years.
“Good,” she said when asked how it felt to be there.
About 50 people turned out for the pinwheel planting and an open house at the YWCA, a leader in efforts to prevent abuse and help those who have survived it.
Chelsea Crapser, director of crisis and prevention services, said the April gathering recognizes the work being done in the community to address child abuse and sexual assault and to honor survivors.
They also highlighted the theme of this year’s sexual assault awareness campaign, “I Ask.”
“It’s all about asking for permission, having consent,” Crapser said, adding that consent is needed when interacting with another person on any level, verbally or physically.
“Really, just encouraging people to ask to have that conversation, to be very clear about what they are asking for,” she said. “And respecting the answer they get.”
Holly Walker with the nonprofit Friends of the Children’s Justice Center said she believes the annual pinwheel planting is raising awareness of sexual assault and child abuse, and is having an impact.
“I think awareness projects help us to have these conversations,” she said. “People start to open up and talk about prevention and awareness about child sex abuse, domestic violence, all these topics that are not easy to talk about. We’re sort of opening up people to talk about it.”
Walker said one goal is that any person who has been abused will get help and “start on this journey of healing,” which the YWCA said is a critical part of its services.
Friends of the Children’s Justice Center wants the community to be strong and united against abuse.
“So in a perfect world, we’ll have so much awareness prevention on this island that all of our children will be safe, all of our families will be safe and we’ll see a drastic decrease in abuse,” Walker said. “That’s why we’re here.”
