State official addressing Kaua‘i women’s issues next week

The head of a statewide government agency will visit the Garden Isle next on Jan. 18 to speak at the Kauaʻi County Committee on the Status of Women’s first public meeting of the year.

Khara Jabola-Carolus, Executive Director of the Hawaiʻi State Commission on the Status of Women, will discuss the Committeeʻs 2023 plan to address priorities inclusive of career development, period poverty and health.

The public is encouraged to attend the meeting at 5 p.m. at the Līhu‘e Civic Center, Boards and Commissions Conference Room, at 4444 Rice Street, Suite 300.

Jabola-Carolus will present Kauaʻi-specific data related to statewide abortion legislation that will have a disproportionate impact on Kaua‘i, the first government report on missing and murdered Native Hawai‘i girls and women, and will introduce potential solutions to violence against women at the island level in coordination with other U.S. cities and counties.

“Gender equality cannot be achieved on Kauaʻi without an equal investment in Kauaʻi women by our O‘ahu-heavy Legislature,” Jabola-Carolus said in a statement released by the County of Kaua‘i. “We are honored to visit Kauaʻi to ensure family planning infrastructure is built during the 2023 State Legislative Session. We also want to recognize Kauaʻi’s contribution to the historic Missing and Murdered Native Hawaiian Women and Girls report and share key findings from the MMNHWG Task Force with the county. No island is immune from this crisis.”

“We are grateful Khara Jabola-Carolus can be included in this public meeting,” said Edie Ignacio Neumiller, Kauaʻi Commissioner for the Hawaiʻi State Commission on the Status of Women.

Commissioner Ignacio Neumiller has served as a State Commissioner since May 2020. She introduced the first Feminist Economic Recovery plan adopted by the Kauaʻi County Council in 2021.

 “The voice of Kauaʻiʻs women and girls is important. We invite active participation from the community to shape a path toward a more equitable future for women and girls on Kauaʻi,” said Darcie Yukimura, Chair of the Kauaʻi County Committee on the Status of Women.

Jabola-Carolus will be available to answer questions on issues relating to women and to meet the community after the meeting. 

Anyone needing an auxiliary aid/service or other accommodation due to a disability may contact Anela Segreti at 808-241-4917 or asegreti@kauai.gov as soon as possible. Requests made as early as possible will allow adequate time to fulfill any requests. Upon request, this notice is available in alternate formats such as large print, braille, or electronic copy.