LIHUE—The Kauai Committee on the Status of Women, in partnership with the Zonta Club of Kauai, invites everyone—especially sports teams—to a free screening of the documentary film Rise of the Wahine on Saturday, starting at 2 p.m. at the Kauai Community College Performing Arts Center.
Edie Ignacio Neumiller, the Kauai commissioner to the state-level Committee on the Status of Women and a past president of the Zonta Club of Kauai, was joined by Zonta Club President Regina Carvalho and some of the club members on Thursday when the organizers of the free movie screening received a special Certificate from the Kauai County Council.
The Council commended the Zonta Club of Kauai for its ongoing work to empower women on a daily basis, not just during Women’s History Month or International Women’s Day.
“Saturday is International Women’s Day and Rose Day,” Neumiller said. “It is a time to reflect and give tribute to the individuals who have empowered all the women in the community.”
Closer to home, Habitat for Humanity Kauai executive director Milani Pimental said during the Thursday key passing for four homebuyers at the Huakai development in Waimea that three of the four homebuyers are single moms, and the fourth homebuyer is a single father raising three daughters.
“International Women’s Day is a time to celebrate the achievements and accomplishments of all women,” Pimental said. “We recognize all the hard work and sometimes sacrifice that comes with owning a home.”
Prior to the screening, Neumiller said that the hosting groups, including the Zonta Club of Kauai, the Kauai Committee on the Status of Women, the Kauai Community College Title IX initiative, the Kauai Community College Performing Arts Center, and the YWCA of Kauai, will have resource tables available where moviegoers can find out more about the respective organizations and Women’s History Month.
“This year’s theme is ‘Accelerate Action,’ as collectively, we can Accelerate Action for gender equity,” the Council Certificate authored by Council member Bernard Carvalho states. “At the current rate of progress, it will take roughly five generations to reach full gender parity, according to data from the World Economic Forum. Focusing on the need to Accelerate Action, the emphasis is on the importance of taking swift and decisive steps to achieve gender equity.”
One of these steps is the inaugural Kauai Interscholastic Federation Girls Flag Football games, featuring four KIF member schools—Waimea, Island School, Kauai, and Kapaa high schools—taking their first steps onto Hanapepe Stadium on Thursday after the Hawaii High School Athletic Association adopted the sport with the support of major sponsors like the National Football League Seahawks.
Another step is the introduction of girls’ flag football into the Kauai Youth Football spring season, which will debut the Girls 14 Under players who received instruction and coaching from the HerbieGives Football Camp that is taking place on Saturday at the Bryan J. Baptiste Sports Park stadium.
“The yellow rose symbolizes friendship, caring, and loyalty,” Neumiller said. “Since `1999, Zonta Rose has served as the symbol of Zonta Rose Day, which falls on March 8 and coincides with International Women’s Day. Zontians worldwide are encouraged to distribute yellow roses publicly, or items bearing the images of yellow roses, accompanied by information about Zonta International and issues relating to improving women’s lives.”
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
