Domestic violence survivors and support systems turn silence into strength

Hawaiʻi County brought together survivors, advocates and loved ones last Friday for the 36th Annual Domestic Violence Peace Walk and Vigil, which honors the victims of domestic violence. 

This yearʻs theme was “Silence to Strength.”

“With the very limited amount of resources on Hawaiʻi Island, there can never be enough outlets for women to gather, especially women who survived acts of violent crimes,” said Dr. Dayna Schultz of He Hoʻomaka Hou Ana Oʻ Puna, a community-cased intervention mentoring program for women.

“Offering these groups is an essential and crucial element that addresses the feelings of shame and  isolation, and the realities of being silenced, that has crippled them for too long,” she said.

He Hoʻomaka Hou Ana Oʻ Puna has been at the forefront of raising awareness about domestic violence. It also has created a support network to improve the lives of women who have survived domestic violence. 

The nonprofit offers a monthly cohort support group of 8 to 10 women that gather for 12 cultural based healing sessions which include activities like lei making, moʻolelo (stories), oli (chant)and protocol along with place-based knowledge of Moku o Keawe (Hawaiʻi Island).  

The small groups allow for individual attention required to build and maintain safe spaces to express, heal and grow without judgment.

“In these sessions, women can find solace when others validate their stories, when they are able to reclaim their identity and when they realize they are not alone,” Schultz said.

In the State of Hawaiʻi, 581 adult and child victims were housed or received supportive services from programs in one day on Sept. 6, 2023, according to a national count conducted by the National Network to End Domestic Violence, which collected data from domestic violence programs.

In 2022, the numbers were higher with 847 adult and child victims served in one day on Sept. 7, 2022.

“While rates continue to fluctuate, the reality is that there is no way to accurately account for all domestic violence and IPV (intimate partner violence) cases in the State of Hawaiʻi,” Schultz said. “The 2023 Annual Domestic Violence count showed a decrease in numbers from the 2022 count, however we must take into account the impacts of COVID-19, which was a vital factor in the amount of cases.”

In Hawaiʻi, 13% of people experience intimate partner violence in their lifetime and Hawaiʻi County has the second highest rate at 14.9%, behind Mauiʻs 17.8%, according to a report by the Hawaiʻi State Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

During the vigil on Friday, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Kirsten Selvig, who works almost exclusively with cases involving domestic violence, spoke about the current statistics for domestic violence cases in the county.

In 2024, Hawaiʻi County has averaged about 15 new cases in family court every month with 13 of those involving abuse or physical violence. Two to three cases involve strangulation, four to five cases involve violence in the presence of a child, and a majority of cases involve an intimate partner. 

“These are just the numbers of arrests, it does not count for police reports made every month,” Selvig said. “Every one of those arrests are made by patrol officers, the first to respond to a call, who are then asked to do an investigation, triage, counseling.”

She said they also are the first to talk to the victim and walk them through the process of a temporary restraining order and provide information about the criminal justice center.

Selvig has made it a mission to have more coordination between the police and the Prosecuting Attorneyʻs Office, so officers can become more equipped to handle cases involving domestic violence and improve the quality of evidence gathered in the event an arrest leads to family court. 

The Prosecuting Attorneyʻs Office also has been conducting short training at the Hilo and Pāhoa stations each month.

“Officers have been more comfortable asking questions and itʻs been great for us to get to know these officers,” Selvig said. “In September, we held a training over four days in Kona and Hilo that was all about the best practices in collecting victim statements and how to provide us with the best information after an arrest. I’d love to do this every year.”

While “Silence to Strength” encourages victims to stand up against domestic violence, it also pushes their support systems to speak up when they see abuse or physical violence. The message is it’s a communityʻs responsibility to help, not just the victim’s to stand up.

“For the cases I have worked, there is a huge difference when a victim has a support system like family, friends, a neighbor or witness, especially when they stand up to say they saw something,” Schultz said. “It takes a lot of courage for a victim or a neighbor to stand up, testify, speak out, but this is a community problem and we need a community-led solution.”

Mayor Mitch Roth read a proclamation on Friday that affirmed October 2024 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Hawaiʻi County. He urged community members to support survivors and raise awareness about the public health issue and the 28 programs and 20 organizations that are serving 2,000 people affected by intimate partner violence each year. 

“When I look at this group, I see many more women than men and I think that’s really sad and something that needs to change,” Roth said. “This is one of the most important societal issues we need to get a hold of. This is a serious issue that impacts all of us and we all need to be involved in making the change.”

A study conducted by the Hawaiʻi State Coalition Against Domestic Violence this year found that younger adults, people of Native Hawaiian or Filipino descent, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and those with incomes under $50,000 experience higher rates of intimate partner violence.

The study’s findings were consistent with state data and reaffirmed a need for culturally sensitive treatment resources, the coalition found.

He Hoʻomaka Hou Ana Oʻ Pua also offers a peer-to-peer mentorship program that helps survivors achieve specific, measurable, achievable and relevant goals to help them move forward with their lives while also gaining knowledge that can be passed on to others along the way.

“Being deeply rooted in culture, we believe in addressing and treating systems and offer resources that encompass overall restoration and healing that address substance use disorder treatment and recovery, housing, higher education, local food baskets and supplemental resources for safety,” Schultz said. “We hope women are able to live safely and happily while finding their passion that leads to sustainability, empowerment and independence.”