Our mission is to change peer culture in order to prevent increasing violence against women and girls through education, entertainment and positive representation of women. According to the Domestic Violence Action Center, one out of every two girls under the age of eighteen in Hawaii either has been or knows of another girl who has been physically abused. One out of five has been sexually assaulted. These girls more often than not do not seek help or call hotlines or tell their parents. They ask their friends for help, friends who are not equipped to handle situations such as abuse. Girl Fest will expose young women to positive role models, encouragement, and more choices on how to avoid violent relationships and occurrences. This is an event to educate the community to prevent the rise in violence.

Since women make up half of the population, when they suffer from economic or physical violence, the ripples are felt society-wide and through generations. Children, spouses, friends, co-workers and even grandchildren are affected. Police and hospital resources are overburdened, as well as social services.

The theme of this year's fest is stopping violence against women and girls. The goal of the fest is to 1) create broad awareness of the contemporary economic and social issues that face women 2) introduce positive role models to young girls 3) create a venue for organizational networking on the subject to form progressive relationships by and between organizations that work in various ways to end violence against women and girls 4) inspire, entertain, and engage audiences with artistic and intellectual expression with a positive message 5) educate youth and adults through educational curricula and hands-on workshops about healing after abuse through progressive arts therapy, societal and individual prevention of violence, community resources, and positive self-expression 6) change peer culture to prevent future violence.

Girl Fest Hawaii has begun uniting young men and women, local small business owners, artists and other concerned citizens who are all volunteering their time toward realizing one mission: to prevent violence against women and girls through education and entertainment.

THE NEED

HAWAII STATISTICS Provided by the Domestic Violence Action Center, the Honolulu Police Department, the Sex Abuse Treatment Center and the Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence (in a population of approximately one million people) 1. There is one death per month due to domestic violence 2. Between one-third and one-half of the police department's work time is spent tending to domestic violence calls. 3. One out of every two girls under the age of eighteen either has been or knows of another girl who has been physically abused. 4. One out of five girls under the age of eighteen in Hawaii has been sexually assaulted. 5. There is an average of 25 rapes per month in the State of Hawaii that are reported. Less than 28% of rapes that occur are actually reported.