KAILUA-KONA — An energy was undeniable as over 200 women gathered at a Kona resort to listen and talk about ways to overcome personal and social issues and how to be successful in their lives.
The third annual Hawaii Island Women’s Leadership Summit, put on by Hawaii Island Women’s Leadership Forum, took place at the Sheraton Kona Resort and Spa at Keauhou Bay on Friday. Women of all ages from all areas of the island participated in the all-day event, where they attended workshops that covered topics such as speed networking, becoming a modern-day influencer to get results and create positive change, equal pay and the psychology of money.
Since the forum’s inception, its goal has been to create a network of women that support and empower each other on the Big Island. The tone of Friday’s forum was set by keynote speaker Jackie Young, commission chair for the Judicial Selection Commission.
The 84-year-old woman told her life story of how she accomplished goals and found a voice to help abused women and children despite personal roadblocks and outside opinion.
“Making our dreams a reality: one of our ways to do that is to find your voice,” Young told the audience.
Young explained to the group the importance of education in her family when she was growing up. After high school, she went to college.
“My first few weeks at University of Hawaii, I was sexually assaulted,” Young said. “I didn’t tell anybody. I had all those things that would make you a good student, but I was confused and distracted.”
Young told the audience she ended up looking for someone to protect her, but quickly provided the advice that was not the solution.
“A man doesn’t protect a woman,” she said. “You protect yourself.”
Young got married at 20 years old. Since her husband was in the military they moved frequently and she never finished her degree.
“I had lost hope that I would ever get my college degree,” Young said.
As years passed, Young went on to have children. She took any opportunity to education herself, including getting a certificate from the YWCA for cake decorating while her family was stationed in Germany.
It wasn’t until she was back on Oahu during the Vietnam War that she returned to school.
“I learned a healthy anger fuels a healthy passion,” Young said.
After Young graduated in speech pathology, her family moved again to Virginia where she got her first job working at The Maryland School for the Blind at 39 years old. It was her time at the school and interactions with one of the students that unlocked that healthy anger and fueled her passion for speaking out against violence toward women and children.
“I had jumped into the ring,” she said.
Young spoke at congressional hearings for the Education for All Children Act, which required the deinstitutionalization of children with disabilities. The act passed.
Young went on to get her Ph.D. at 55 years old.
“When I got my Ph.D., people told me I was too old to do anything with it,” Young told the women. “You know what I did? I ran for office.”
Young ran and won for the Hawaii State House of Representatives. She eventually became the first female vice-speaker of the House.
“I ran for office and became a politician. It was the most exhilarating time in my life,” she said. “I have been speaking out about sexual violence ever since.”
Young talked about the momentum of #MeToo, a movement that has inspired women around the world to speak out against sexual assault and not be afraid to talk about it.
“How can we reach gender equity when women and children continue to be assaulted?” Young questioned.
The #MeToo movement, which started in 2006, has picked up at a global pace. Young said 13 different countries support #MeToo. She added that while she was recently in Korea, thousands of women took the street to support the movement.
“There is hope,” she said. “There is anger with the way things are and courage for change.”
Young said she first started speaking out on violence against women in the 1970s.
“When is it going to change?” she asked. “When are people going to speak out? ‘Just say no’ is not working.”
Young said there are men around the world who are also abused but are ashamed to come forward. Women can find partners in men to help affect change and get rid of sexual violence in their communities, she added.
“So you live on the Big Island,” Young said. “There are so many ways you can speak out. We need more voices.”
Young inspired women at the forum. Mary Moody of Paauilo said Young was incredible to her.
“She just changed the trajectory of her entire life,” Moody said. “You really can’t achieve your dreams if you don’t have clarity.”
Moody owns a gluten-free bakery and works at The Pantry. She is hopeful to add a component that assists women and children who have been abused.
“I’m always seeking out leadership women conferences,” she said. “It’s taking a lot of wisdom from women who’ve forged through the gnarliest things.”
Susan Bambara of Puna has wanted to attend the event for the past two years in the hopes to share and network.
“I got up at 4:30 in the morning to make it,” she said.
Bambara, a clinical hypnotist, thought the summit was informative.
“I’m inspired by the encouraged camaraderie among women as sisters,” she said.
Deb Lewis, a retired colonel, is one of the charter members of the forum. She explained the group was a grassroots effort to network and empower women.
“This summit is really about having a dialogue,” she said. “We all need help. We have to be able to discuss the tough issues and work together.”
Lewis added the forum is a huge reminder that in this busy world women must take time to reflect, learn together and plan for the future.
“If we don’t, we’re going to keep having what we’re having,” she said.
The summit featured speaker singer and model Victoria Prince. She said, “Remember, you are your only limit.”
“Putting ourselves out there, sticking together, together we rise,” she said.