WAIMEA — Between July 2016 and June 2017, 84 temporary restraining orders (TRO) were filed in family court in South Kohala alone.
At least 18 additional TROs have been filed in South Kohala since then.
“I’m waiting to see if the amount of TROs increases in 2018,” May Lee said, a South Kohala officer who chairs the Domestic Violence Awareness Committee (DVAC) — a volunteer group formed in Waimea in 2016.
To address victims’ needs, over the past year DVAC has hosted victim support group gatherings monthly, following their first town vigil in late 2016.
“More than a dozen people have attended the support group meetings,” Lee said. “They can talk without interruption and everyone else listens. Or they don’t have to talk at all.”
Stephanie Barnett, a victim/witness counselor for the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney in Kona, was asked by Lee to join DVAC from the outset.
“I was a social worker for 15 years for child protection in Minnesota,” she said. “The support group here uses a circle format that allows people to speak when they’re ready.”
Sydney Wiecking said she was motivated to join DVAC after seeing domestic violence multiple times in her own neighborhood. She also serves on the support group committee.
“I have a background in psychology and was a counselor at Hawaii Preparatory Academy 32 years ago. About 13 years ago I started training as a parent coach,” Wiecking said. “I help people see that there are challenges in our lives but that doesn’t have to define who we are. We can still be empowered to create the life we want to live, and take the small steps to move forward.”
Jobi Frorath joined the volunteer committee earlier this month.
“I was very excited to hear about DVAC, particularly since they address Waimea/Kohala and Waikoloa,” she said. “I am a retired Hawaii licensed social worker with experience over 30 years on this island in both medical and child/family services. What particularly pulls my heart is that I have had personal and professional experience with it. It’s very important to assist those who are seeking help.”
DVAC’s next two domestic violence support group meetings are scheduled at 5:30 p.m. May 7 and June 4.
“All domestic violence is about power and control — whether it’s emotional, physical, financial, spiritual or even control over kids and pets,” Lee said.
Around 20 volunteers work on four other DVAC committees: legislative, fundraising, events and grant writing.
“Volunteers can serve on committees or add their names to the list to help with events, grant writing or securing physical or financial donations,” Lee said.
“Just showing up to our meetings can provide exposure and education to what’s happening in the community,” Barnett added.
In order to provide around-the-clock support, DVAC volunteers are currently applying for a variety of grants to fund a full-time victim navigator position. The employee would work with victims every step of the way.
“The group has applied for two grants so far. We are in the process of identifying other grants,” Eddy Cash–Dudley said, who heads DVAC’s grant writing committee. “We have a unique situation in that we are rural, underserved and have an extremely high rate of violence for our population. We want to offer a unique service to victims by providing emergency housing, emergency transportation and emotional support through the crisis, as well as through the legal system.”
They will find out if they are awarded any of the grants by late May.
Currently, DVAC is seeking a variety of donations — everything from hotel vouchers for overnight stays, to Uber transportation, emergency supplies and transportation to the hospital for victims.
At the committee’s March meeting, Donna Sheather added that Waimea Preservation Association’s office is available for meetings between victims and their lawyers at no cost.
DVAC also wants to find ways to prevent domestic violence from happening in the first place.
“Ultimately we want to create an education program for middle and high schools on how abuse starts,” Lee said. “Hopefully this can also be funded by the grants we receive.”
Info: For the confidential DVAC support group meeting location or to volunteer contact May Lee at 887-3080 or May.Lee@hawaiicounty.gov.
