Witness the ‘Rise of the Wahine’

Come be witness to the “Rise of the Wahine” this weekend in Līhuʻe.

Kaua‘i County Committee on the Status of Women is hosting a free screening of the 2014 documentary “Rise of the Wahine: Champions of Title IX” at 2 p.m. Saturday at Kaua‘i Community College Performing Arts Center in celebration of Women’s History Month.

The event is open to the public and all sports teams.

Several resource tables also will be available and open starting at 1:30 p.m.

The award-winning film is directed by Honolulu filmmaker Dean Kaneshiro and co-produced by Hilo native, co-host of “Spotlight Now” on Hawai‘i News Now and former University of Hawai‘i wahine volleyball team assistant coach Ryan Tsuji of Honolulu.

“Rise of the Wahine” tells the true story of the University of Hawai‘i Rainbow Wahine volleyball team, highlighting its journey through adversity and pivotal role in shaping women’s athletics.

It explores the significance of Title IX, the 1972 law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in educational programs and activities, and the battles that were fought and won before and after the landmark law’s passage — from the halls of the U.S. Capitol to the dusty volleyball courts at the Mānoa campus — to make sure young women had the right to play sports.

Historical women champions highlighted in the film include:

• Donnis Thompson, an African-American athletic pioneer and University of Hawai‘i’s first woman athletic director, who launched the Rainbow Wahine volleyball program to national heights.
• U.S. Rep. Patsy Mink of Hawai‘i, the first woman of color elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and first Asian-American woman to serve in Congress, who was one of the authors and sponsors of Title IX.
• Beth McLachlin, two-time U.S. Volleyball Association All-American who was captain of the Rainbow Wahine the first 2 years of their collegiate competition and helped lead the the team to consecutive second-place finishes in the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women national championships in 1974 and 1975, later co-captaining the U.S. Olympic team.

“These pioneers of Hawai‘i — Patsy Mink and Dr. Donnis Thompson — are true national heroes,” said former University of Hawai‘i Rainbow Wahine head volleyball coach (1975-2017) Dave Shoji on the film’s website. “They’ve helped change the landscape of female athletic and educational opportunities in a way that affects the lives of every girl and young woman in our country today.”

“Rise of the Wahine” features interviews with key figures such as Bernice Sandler and Gwendolyn Mink, along with personal stories from former Rainbow Wahine players and Shoji. The documentary illustrates the challenges the team faced and their transformative impact on sports, education and gender equality.

It celebrates perseverance, collaboration and breaking barriers — a perfect representation of the 2025 Women’s History Month theme “Moving Forward TOGETHER! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations.”

The film’s maker and director Kaneshiro explained the journey of creating “Rise of the Wahine” forever changed his heart and inspired him to raise his children in an empowering way.

“I hope the Wahine story inspires future generations to challenge injustice in all forms,” he said.

“Rise of the Wahine: Champions of Title IX” is not just a documentary.

It is a powerful testament of how individuals can change culture, fight for equality and inspire future generations.

It encourages viewers to honor one another, rise above adversity and advocate for a world where injustice is no longer tolerated.

“Never in my life has a door of opportunity been closed to me because of my gender or ethnicity,” explains Kaneshiro on the film’s website. “I just knew I had to walk in these women’s shoes for a few years to better understand what they had to overcome and the struggles they continue to have today.”

The entire community is invited and encouraged to attend this remarkable screening event in celebration of Women’s History Month and learn more about the champions — and heroines of Hawai‘i and U.S. history — who helped establish gender equality in sports and beyond.

Visit the “Rise of the Wahine” website or contact Kodie Kaina with the Office of Kaua‘i County Boards and Commissions at 808-241-4919 or via email at kkaina@kauai.gov for additional information.

News reporter Nathan Christophel contributed to this story.