IN THE UNITED STATES, MARCH IS DESIGNATED AS WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH.

IT’S A TIME TO REFLECT ON THE ADVANCEMENTS WOMEN HAVE MADE IN ALL AREAS OF SOCIETY.

IT’S ALSO A TIME TO HONOR THE UNSUNG HEROES AS WELL AS THE TRAILBLAZERS WHO LED THE WAY TO CHANGE.

AND WHILE GAINS CONTINUE TO BE MADE, MANY SAY MORE PROGRESS IS NEEDED FOR WOMEN TO CLOSE THE GENDER GAP.

TONIGHT’S LIVE BROADCAST AND LIVESTREAM OF INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAII START NOW.

¶¶ ¶¶ ALOHA AND WELCOME TO INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAII.

I'M OLENA HEU.

FOR CENTURIES, WOMEN’S CONTRIBUTIONS TO AMERICA’S NATIONAL NARRATIVE WERE OVERLOOKED.

IN FACT, IT WASN’T UNTIL 1980 WHEN PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER ISSUED THE FIRST PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION DECLARING A WEEK IN MARCH, AS NATIONAL WOMEN’S HISTORY WEEK.

AFTER HEAVY LOBBYING TO CONGRESS, THE CELEBRATION WAS EXPANDED TO THE ENTIRE MONTH IN 1987.

IT’S A TIME TO REMEMBER THE SACRIFICES MADE BY WOMEN FOR A MORE INCLUSIVE SOCIETY.

IT’S ALSO A TIME TO HONOR THE EXTRAORDINARY ACHIEVEMENTS OF AMERICAN WOMEN.

AND AS WOMEN CONTINUE TO BREAK THE GLASS CEILING, MORE WORK NEEDS TO BE DONE.

TONIGHT, A CANDID CONVERSATION ABOUT GENDER EQUALITY AND IF IT’S ELUSIVE?

WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR PARTICIPATION IN TONIGHT'S SHOW.

YOU CAN EMAIL OR CALL IN YOUR QUESTIONS AND YOU’LL FIND A LIVE STREAM OF THIS PROGRAM AT PBSHAWAII.ORG AND THE PBS HAWAII FACEBOOK PAGE.

NOW, TO OUR GUESTS.

TANYA SMITH‑JOHNSON IS THE POLICY DIRECTOR AT HEALTHY MOTHERS HEALTHY BABIES COALITION OF HAWAII.

THE NON‑PROFIT IS PART OF A NATIONAL NETWORK OF ORGANIZATIONS WORKING TO IMPROVE MATERNAL, CHILD AND FAMILY HEALTH.

TANNYA HAS A BACHELOR’S DEGREE IN BIOLOGY AND A MASTER’S IN MEDICAL SCIENCE.

SHE’S A NAVY HOSPITAL CORPSMAN VETERAN, A CERTIFIED MIDWIFE AND THE MOTHER OF SIX CHILDREN.

COLLEEN MCALUNEY IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE PATSY T. MINK CENTER FOR BUSINESS AND LEADERSHIP.

IT’S THE ONLY WOMEN’S BUSINESS CENTER IN HAWAII AND IS DESIGNED TO ASSIST WOMEN TO BECOME SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENUERS AND LEADERS.

SHE’S A GRADUATE OF PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY AND ENJOYS HIKING, TRAVELING AND SEARCHING FOR POP‑UP RESTAURANTS AND FOOD TRUCKS.

YOUNGHEE OVERLY IS THE PUBLIC POLICY CHAIR FOR THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN OF HAWAII.

THE GROUP’S MISSION IS TO HELP FIGHT FOR FAIR PAY AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR WOMEN.

SHE HAS MORE THAN THREE DECADES OF EXPERIENCE AT IBM IN SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT, SALES AND MARKETING.

YOUNGEE LOVES SNORKELING, KOREAN DRAMAS AND IS HAPPY TO TRANSLATE BTS LYRICS FOR FRIENDS.

AND IHILANI LASCONIA IS A NATIVE HAWAIIAN ACTIVIST AND ARTIST FROM WAIMANALO.

SHE’S CURRENTLY A GRADUATE STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA WORKING TOWARDS A MASTER’S DEGREE IN EDUCATION ADMINISTRATION.

PART OF HER STUDIES INCLUDE INVESTIGATING THE POLITICS OF FREE SPEECH AND ITS UNIQUE IMPACT ON INDIGENOUS PEOPLES IN HIGHER EDUCATION.

THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING.

IT IS MY HONOR TO FACILITATE THE CONVERSATION TONIGHT.

I WANTED TO START OFF FIRST MAYBE WITH A LITTLE BIT OF ICE BREAKER ASKING EACH OF THE LADIES THIS EVENING STARTING WITH IT ANYA TO TALK ABOUT ONE WOMAN THAT HAS INSPIRED YOU IN YOUR CAREER.

>> WOW.

ONE WOMAN.

INSPIRE ME IN MY CAREER.

TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I WOULD SAY MY MOTHER.

MY MOTHER CAME FROM REALLY HUMBLE BEGINNING.

SHE IS THE REASON WHY I MOTHER THE WAY I DO.

SHE'S THE REASON WHY I WANTED TO BE SOMEONE WHO TOOK CARE OF MOTHERS BIRTHING PEOPLE AND CHILDREN.

SHE HAD A HARD UPBRINGING BUT WITH THAT, SHE TAUGHT ME THE BEAUTY AND NURTURING AND NURTURING PEOPLE NOURISHING PEOPLE.

CARING FOR THE UNDERDOG.

CARING FOR THOSE IN THE MARGINS.

SPEAKING FOR THOSE WHO GO UNSEEN AND UNHEARD.

SO YEAH, I WOULD SAY HER.

SHE'S THE REASON PRETTY MUCH WHY I DO EVERYTHING THAT I DO.

>>Olena: WONDERFUL.

THANK YOU.

HOW ABOUT YOU?

>> FOR ME, NATIVE HAWAIIAN SCHOLAR ACTIVIST, POET, KALANI TRASK.

PART OF MY GRADUATE WORK HAS BEEN TO WORK ON BIOGRAPHY IN HER HONOR.

LEARNING ABOUT ALL THE AMAZING THINGS SHE DID AND LEGACY SHE LEFT.

NOT JUST NATIVE HAWAIIAN WOMEN, BUT ALL WOMEN AND PEOPLE SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN REALLY INSPIRING FOR ME AND SOMETHING THAT I HOPE TO BUILD OFF OF.

>>Olena: WONDERFUL.

HOW ABOUT YOU?

>> IT WOULD HAVE TO BE EXECUTIVE THAT I WAS WORKING FOR WHEN I WAS 25.

I WENT STRAIGHT TO WORK.

SHE TOOK ACTION.

SO WHEN I BECAME A MANAGER, I WENT BACK TO HER, ASKING HER TO BECOME MY MENTOR AND SHE SAID, AS A MANAGER, YOU LISTEN FIRST, AND THEN YOU FIGURE OUT HOW TO SUPPORT, AND THEN YOU LEAD AS NEEDED.

THAT LISTEN HAS BEEN WITH ME FOR A LONG.

>>Olena: COLLEEN?

>> MINE WOULD HAVE TO BE EARLIER CAREER, WHEN I WAS IN RETAIL, I HAD A STORE MANAGER THAT PROBABLY WAS IT'S MOST INFLUENTIAL FOR ME.

HOW SHE DEALT WITH PEOPLE.

WITH HER STAFF, WITH HER TEAM, AND I LEARNED QUITE A BIT FROM HER AS A DIRECT TRANSPARENT COMMUNICATOR WHO WAS VERY FIRM, BUT SHE ALSO WAS VERY FAIR.

SHE WOULD LISTEN AND THEN SHE WOULD ACT AND I THINK THAT SHE BUILT A VERY STRONG TEAM AROUND HER WHO SUPPORTED HER 100%.

AND IT WAS JUST HER, JUST THE WAY SHE HONORED THEM, BUT ALSO, LED THEM WAS AMAZING EXAMPLE TO ME IN MY GROWTH.

AND I STILL SPEAK TO HER TO THIS DAY.

FANTASTIC.

>>Olena: WONDERFUL.

ALSO WANT TO REMIND OUR VIEWERS THAT IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FOR OUR PANEL TONIGHT, YOU MAY CALL, YOU CAN ALSO LEAVE A FACEBOOK MESSAGE AND CAN YOU ALSO EMAIL US AS WELL.

WE'LL BE HAPPY TO INCLUDE YOU IN THE CONVERSATION.

COMING FROM A NATIVE HAWAIIAN BACKGROUND, WE JUST HEARD FROM ALL THE OTHER LADIES TALKING ABOUT LEADERS AND YOU ALSO MENTIONED GREAT LEADER.

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU LEARNED FROM SOME OF THESE NATIVE HAWAIIAN LEADERS THAT YOU HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING AS YOU'RE GETTING YOUR MASTERS?

>> GREAT QUESTION.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I THINK OVER ARCHING THING I LEARNED FROM AMAZING WAHINE SUCH AS KUMU TRASK AND KAAHUMANU, WON'T BE THE FIRST PERSON TO SAY THIS.

WAHINE HAVE A PLACE IN THE STRUGGLE AND THINKING ABOUT EFFORTS TOWARDS DECOLONIZATION OR DEOCCUPATION, ALWAYS BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF THESE STRUGGLE AND FINDING OUT WHAT OUR KULEANA RESPONSIBILITY IS AS WAHINE, THINKING ABOUT MY GRADUATE WORK.

SOMETHING THAT ALSO REMIND HE OF IS BEING INVOLVED IN THESE STRUGGLES, YOU HAVE TO BRING A LOT OF LOVE AND JOY.

TRYING NOT TO TAKE MYSELF TOO SERIOUSLY BUT UNDERSTANDING THERE'S JOY IN THESE MOMENTS OF WORKING AND ORGANIZE.

IT CAN BE DIFFICULT SOMETIMES.

>>Olena: WE CAN'T TALK ABOUT WOMEN AND POWERFUL WOMEN WITHOUT MENTIONING PATSY MINK AND EVERYTHING THAT SHE HAS DONE FOR US.

WITH TITLE IX.

AND WHAT KIND OF THINGS ARE YOU DOING WITH THE CENTER FOR BUSINESS AND LEADERSHIP AND HOW CAN WE FURTHER COMMEMORATE WHAT SHE'S DONE AND TALK ABOUT THE ON ANNIVERSARY OF TITLE IX.

>> STARTING WITH THE WAY OUR CENTER NAME WAS ORIGINALLY MADE, YWCA OAHU, ASKED WENDY MINK IF WE COULD NAME THE CENTER AFTER HER MOTHER.

SHE SAID SHE WOULD BE HONORED TO HAVE THAT HAPPEN AS LONG AS IT HAD LEADERSHIP ATTACHED TO THE NAME.

THAT'S WHY IT IS A LONG MOUTHFUL.

PATSY T MINK CENTER FOR BUSINESS AND LEADERSHIP.

THAT WAS SUCH A WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP WAS SUCH A FUNDAMENTAL CORE FOCUS OF PATSY MINK, THAT SHE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT SHE WAS REPRESENTED IN THAT WAY AS WELL.

I THINK THAT CENTER IS FOCUSED ON LIFTING WOMEN, ENTREPRENEURS AND WOMEN LEADERS.

SO WE HAVE PROGRAMS THAT ARE FOCUSED ON SUPPORTING THEM IN THAT JOURNEY.

AND IT'S SUCH AN HONOR TO BE ABLE TO WORK SOMEWHERE THAT IS NAMED AFTER PATSY MINK FOR SURE.

I THINK WE'RE STILL TRYING TO REACH THE FULL CAPACITY THAT TITLE IX WAS ORIGINALLY ESTABLISHED TO CREATE OR IT'S JUST WHAT ITS INTENT WAS.

I THINK WE'RE STILL.

>>Olena: MAYBE THE WORD YOU'RE THINKING OF IS POTENTIAL.

>> THANK YOU.

YES!

WE ARE TRYING TO, I'M SURE, FOR WHAT SHE INTEND IT TO BE, NOT QUITE THERE YET, BUT WE'RE GETTING THERE.

AND I THINK OUR CENTER CERTAINLY IS FOR OUR LEADERSHIP, OUR LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS, OUR BUSINESS CENTER IS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF WOMEN EXECUTIVES IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WE WANT TO SEE MORE WOMEN.

WE WANT SEE MORE WOMEN LEADERS DIRECTINGER AND LEADING.

SO WE ARE DIRECTING AND LEADING.

WORK ALL THE TIME TOWARD THAT.

108 ALUMNI WOMEN'S LEADER SHIP PROGRAM.

FOCUSED ON THAT.

>>Olena: WHAT DOES THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY OF WOMEN OF HAWAII DO?

>> SO, AAUW OF HAWAII, STATE CHAPTER OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION.

IN HAWAII, HAVE BEEN AROUND SINCE 1905.

IT WAS STARTED BY FEW WOMEN WOULD DO HAVE COLLEGE DEGREE WANTED TO ENCOURAGE WOMEN TO GO COLLEGE.

STARTED AS A CLUB THAT GAVE SCHOLARSHIPS.

STILL DO THAT.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE GIVE OUT GRANTS TO INDIVIDUALS TO DEVELOP THEIR CAREER AS WELL AS LEADERSHIP.

LEADERS WHO ARE THERE.

FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, I DO THE PUBLIC POLICY.

SO WE WORK ON EQUAL PAY, TITLE IX, WORKPLACE HARASSMENT, STATE LAWS LIKE THAT, THAT IS GOING TO REMOVE THE SYSTEMATIC BARRIERS THAT GETS IN THE WAY OF ADVANCEMENT FOR WOMEN.

TALKING ABOUT EDUCATION OR CAREER.

THAT'S WHAT WE DO.

WE ARE ALSO MEMBER ORGANIZATION THAT IS ALL VOLUNTEER.

>>Olena: OKAY.

ALSO, NONPROFIT HEALTHY MOTHERS HEALTHY BABIES, IS THAT CORRECT?

>> YES.

>>Olena: WHAT WOULD YOU DESCRIBE AS FAR AS YOUR SERVICES?

I KNOW IT'S ESSENTIALLY ABOUT MOMS AND BABIES.

BUT YOU PROVIDE SO MUCH MORE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO MUCH MORE.

REALLY, OUR AIM IS TO KIND OF WRAP PEOPLE AROUND IN OUR SERVICES.

WE RECENTLY STARTED A KIND OF CLINICAL PORTION TO OUR CARE WHERE WE'RE ACTUALLY, HAVE A DULA PROGRAM.

SUPPORTING PEOPLE BIRTHING IN HOSPITALS AND JUST GIVING THEM SUPPORT WHICH WAS REALLY IMPORTANT IN THE MIDST OF COVID PEOPLE AT ONE POINT, COULDN'T EVEN HAVE THEIR PARTNERS IN THE HOSPITAL WITH THEM.

SO BEING THERE AS ADVOCATES FOR MOTHERS AND BIRTHING PEOPLE TO LET THEM KNOW WHAT THE RIGHTS ARE, LET THEM KNOW AUTONOMOUS IN THEIR BODIES ARE THEIRS AND THAT THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO GET THE KIND OF CARE THEY WANT.

ALSO WITH THE MIDST OF COVID, WE HAD A FOOD PROGRAM.

DELIVERING WEEK'S WORTH OF MEALS TO PREGNANT AND POST PARTUM MOMS TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE GETTING THE NUTRIENT THEY NEED.

REALLY JUST THINKING OF ALL THE PORTIONS OF CARE THAT SOMEONE WHO IS PREGNANT, BIRTHING SMALL CHILDREN, NEEDS IN ORDER TO CREATE A COMMUNITY OR VILLAGE AROUND THEM.

PEOPLE DON'T HAVE THAT.

COVID, PEOPLE'S FAMILIES WEREN'T ABLE TO BE WITH THEM.

PEOPLE LIVE INTERGENERATIONALLY.

TAKING CARE OF PREGNANT AND BIRTHING PEOPLE, FAMILY.

DIAPER SERVICE, FOOD DELIVERY TO LACTATION SERVICES CHILD BIRTH EDUCATION, REALLY JUST TRYING TO EDUCATE, EMPOWER AND HELPING PEOPLE ADVOCATE FOR WHAT THEY NEED.

>>Olena: QUESTION THAT I HAVE FOR THE ENTIRE PANEL, SOMEONE CAN JUMP IN WHENEVER THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE.

DID YOU EVER FEEL THAT YOU WERE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST BECAUSE YOU WERE A WOMAN?

>> AS WE ARE, YES.

I'LL GO FIRST.

NOT ONLY AS A WOMAN, AS A BLACK WOMAN IN PARTICULAR.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO SPECIFICITY JUST HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES AND HOW IT WAS FORM AND HOW IT WAS CREATED.

OFF OF THE BACKS OF BLACK WOMEN AND THEIR BIRTHING AND LABOR AND THEIR ACTUAL PHYSICAL LABOR WORK.

I THINK IT JUST KIND OF LAYS THE FOUNDATION FOR HOW WE TREAT BLACK WOMEN, HOW WE TREAT WOMEN IN GENERAL, TREAT WOMEN OF COLOR.

SO EVERY ROOM THAT I MOVE INTO MOST OF THE TIME, IN THESE SPACES I'M THE ONLY SOMETIMES THE ONLY BLACK WOMAN, SOMETIMES THE ONLY WOMAN OF COLOR.

HAVING TO SIT IN THE SPACE.

HAVING TO ADVOCATE, USE MY VOICE, GAS LIGHTING AND MICROAGGRESSIONS, ALL THE THINGS.

NOT JUST FROM MEN, BUT FROM TO BE FRANK, WHITE WOMEN AS WELL.

SO HAVING TO FIGHT MULTIPLE BATTLES, MULTIPLE INTERSECTIONALITIES OF THAT FIGHT.

I DO A TED TALK ON ALL THE DISCRIMINATION.

LOOK AT WOMEN THE ONES WHO ARE GOING TO SAVE THE COUNTRY.

SAVE THE ELECTION.

SAVING UNITED STATES FROM OURSELVES.

AND ALL THE THINGS.

ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE I KNOW IT.

>> STEP INTO A ROOM, I KNOW I HAVE TO KIND WEAR THIS KIND OF ARMOR AND BE PREPARED FOR WHAT'S TO COME.

FIGHT THE FIGHT EVERY DAY.

>>Olena: I WOULD IMAGINE WORKING IN IBM, THAT MAY HAVE BEEN QUITE CHALLENGING AS WELL.

>> I HAVE TO SAY MY FIRST, I TELL PEOPLE, I BECAME A FEMINIST AT AGE FIVE.

BECAUSE IF THERE WAS A PERSONAL DISCRIMINATION FROM MY GRANDMOTHER, COMPARE WITH MY BROTHER.

IT HAD TO DO, YOU GET PICTURE.

I WAS FIVE, HE WAS EIGHT.

THAT'S WHEN I BECAME AWARE OF SOCIAL BIASES AGAINST WOMEN.

SOME ARE INTERNALIZED.

AND THUS, POINT TANYA MADE, AND SOME ARE NOT.

AND FROM SYSTEMATIC BARRIER PERSPECTIVE, DEFINITELY.

BY THE TIME, I STUDIED COMPUTER SCIENCE IN COLLEGE, AND I THINK THERE WERE TWO OTHER WOMEN IN MY CLASS.

50 TOTAL.

STUDYING COMPUTER SCIENCE.

NOT EVEN 10% WHEN I WAS GOING TO SCHOOL THERE.

FRANKLY I GOT USED TO BEING THE ONLY DESK, ONLY NONWHITE, ONLY WOMAN.

IN THROUGHOUT COLLEGE.

SO BY THE TIME I GOT TO IBM, FRANKLY I DIDN'T NOTICE IT.

AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WHEN I WAS 25, MY MANAGER CALLED ME, BOSSY BROAD BECAUSE I WAS SOMETHING FOR A PROJECT.

I HAD OPINION.

AS A SOFTWARE DEVELOPER AND THAT MADE ME BOSSY BROAD.

THAT WAS LIKE FIRST ENCOUNTER.

GREAT ABOUT IBM THEY TOOK ACTION.

HE'S NO LONGER A MANAGER.

I FEEL VERY EMPOWERED.

I FEEL VERY LUCKY THAT THAT WAS MY FIRST ENCOUNTER TO SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN WORKPLACE.

IT HAPPENED BUT IT GOT TAKEN CARE.

SO THAT.

ONE END, YOU GET USED TO BEING ONE OF THE FEW.

AND YOU HAVE TO GET THROUGH IT.

OTHER HAND, SYSTEMATICALLY, POLICIES BUSINESS HAD TO THAT TOOK CARE OF THE SITUATION.

IN SOME WAYS I THINK THAT IS ALLOWED ME TO WORK ON PUBLIC POLICY.

WE NEED BOTH.

WE NEED BUSINESS.

ORGANIZATION POLICIES.

AND PUBLIC POLICIES.

>>Olena: COLLEEN?

>> I HAVE TO SAY I'LL BE TRANSPARENT AND HONEST THAT I HAVE NOT HAD TO DEAL WITH TOO MUCH OF THE DISCRIMINATION, RACISM IN MY LIFE.

I WOULD SAY PRIVILEGED TO BE ABLE TO SAY THAT.

UNFORTUNATELY FOR ALL OF YOU.

BUT THAT IS MY THE CASE FOR ME.

>>Olena: I APPRECIATE THAT.

THE CASE FOR ME.

SPEAKING FROM THE HEART FROM MY PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE, I WOULD SAY I HAVE SEEN IT PERSONALLY.

BUT ONE THING THAT REALLY HITS HOME FOR ME IS WHEN I REFLECT ON MY CAREER IN PARTICULAR, I DID FEEL DISCRIMINATED AGAINST BY OTHER WOMAN.

IF THAT MAKES ANY SENSE.

SO OBVIOUSLY, THEM POWERED WOMEN EMPOWER WOMEN, IS VERY DEEP FOR ME PERSONALLY.

SO WOULD YOU ALSO AGREE TO THAT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK THE SAME LIKE THE WOMAN EMPOWER WOMAN COULDN'T BE MORE TRUE.

BUT I THINK OFTENTIMES, BECOMING MORE POPULAR OR COMMONPLACE FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS, AND MANY AS WELL.

TO IDENTIFY AS FEMINISTS, OFTENTIMES HISTORY OF FEMINISM GETS OVERLOOKED SO MUCH SO THAT WE THINK NOT FEMINISM OR WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT IS JUST BEING EQUAL TO MEN, SO WOMEN EMPOWERMENT IS LOOKING LIKE, HAVING MORE WOMEN CEOS MORE WOMEN IN THE MILITARY.

WE SHOULD BE THINKING ABOUT WOMEN'S LIBERATION LOOKS LIKE ON A BROADER SENSE AND WHAT WOMEN NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND FULFILLED.

NOT NECESSARILY RELATED OR EQUAL TO BEING SAME AS MALE COUNTERPARTS.

GOING BACK TO FEELING DISCRIMINATED AGAINST, WHETHER IT'S BASIS OF RACE OR SEXISM, AS A STUDENT, UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII, ESPECIALLY KANAKA MAOLI.

THIS IS VERY, VERY TRUE.

IN ONE WAY, UNIVERSITY WANTS TO BE A HAWAIIAN PLACE OF LEARNING AND INDIGENOUS LEARNING INSTITUTION.

OFTENTIMES KANAKA MAOLI AND ESPECIALLY KANAKA ARE MET WITH DISCRIMINATION AND SEXISM TRYING TO VOICE OUR CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT THAT ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE.

YEAH, IT'S VERY REAL.

IT'S VERY UNIQUE FOR NATIVE WOMEN BECAUSE WE'RE BATTLING NOT JUST CRONYISM BUT BATTLING MONOPOLY.

A LOT OF DIFFERENT ANGLES TO TAKE THIS.

WOMEN IN HAWAII ARE FACING STRUGGLES BUT NATIVE WOMEN ESPECIALLY.

>>Olena: THANK YOU.

AND WE ARE STARTING TO GET SOME COMMENTS ON FACEBOOK AND VIA EMAIL.

THE FIRST IS EACH COUNTY IN HAWAII HAS ELECTED A WOMAN MAYOR.

MAUI DID IT TWICE.

WE HAVE HAD A WOMAN GOVERNOR.

DOES THAT PUT HAWAII AHEAD OF THE GAME OR ARE WE FALLING SHORT IN OTHER ONES?

LIKE THE PRIVATE SECTOR?

ERIC FROM KAILUA.

DO YOU LADIES FORESEE THAT MAYBE WE COULD HAVE ANOTHER WOMAN GOVERNOR OR WITH THE ELECTION COMING UP, THERE ARE SOME WOMEN RUNNING FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT?

>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT AND I THINK IHILANI KIND OF TOUCHED ON THIS, NOT JUST ABOUT HAVING WOMEN IN PLACES, RIGHT?

WOMEN ON BOARDS AND WOMEN IN ALL OF THESE THINGS.

IT'S ABOUT ETHICS AND PHILOSOPHY.

WE CAN HAVE WOMEN IN PLACE IS NOT NECESSARILY THE BEST THING FOR WOMEN.

NOT NECESSARILY, LOTS OF TIMES WOMEN CAN MOVE LIKE MEN AND CAN MOVE LIKE WHITE MEN IN PARTICULAR.

BE EXTEMELY HARMFUL.

WE JUST HAVE TO LOOK AT IS IT TOKENISM.

JUST THAT WE WANT ANY WOMAN IN A SEAT TO SAY, WE'RE EQUAL TO MEN, OR IS IT IMPORTANT FOR TO US LOOK AT WHAT THE POLITICS ARE.

WHAT THEY REPRESENT.

LOOK AT IF THEY'RE REALLY ABOUT COMMUNITY WORK AND ABOUT COMMUNITY.

SO I MEAN, IT'S GREAT THAT EACH COUNTY HAS ELECTED A WOMAN.

OF COURSE WE SHOULD WANT MORE.

ALSO, NEED TO THINK ABOUT ARE WE ELECTING TYPE OF WOMEN REALLY REPRESENT THE ETHICS AND PHILOSOPHIES AND POLICIES WE REALLY NEED TO MOVE THE NEEDLE FORWARD FOR ALL OF US.

>>Olena: HAVE ANOTHER COMMENT.

QUESTION ON FACEBOOK.

KELVIN ASKS, IT'S 50 YEARS SINCE PATSY PINK EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND EDUCATION ACT.

HOW CAN LAWMAKERS AMEND THAT ACT TO BENEFIT WOMEN IN THE NEXT 50 YEARS?

>> I WOULD CHIME IN.

37 WORDS IN PREPARATION FOR THIS DISCUSSION.

I WOULD SAY JUST THINKING THROUGH.

MEAN AS A PERSON AND LEADER.

AND CHANGE MAKER BUT ALSO WHAT TITLE IX HAS DONE.

SO IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG TO FIGURE OUT I OBVIOUSLY BENEFIT FROM IT BECAUSE JUST BEFORE OUR TITLE IX, 1972, ONLY 8%, ONLY 8%, OF STEM, SO SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY ENGINEERING MATH, WORKERS, WERE WOMEN.

NOT AT 50% YET.

48% OF THE WORKERS ARE WOMEN AND WE'RE FAR FROM 48%.

IT'S 27.

BUT IT GREW FROM 8 TO 27, AND I AM BENEFICIARY OF IT.

THAT WHOLE THING ABOUT GIRL CAN'T DO MATH.

YOU RUN LIKE A GIRL, GIRLS CANNOT DO MATH.

TOTALLY WRONG.

IN FACT, IT WAS MY DAD WOULD THOUGHT I SHOULD GO INTO COMPUTER SCIENCE BECAUSE I WAS GOOD WITH MATH.

I NEVER DOUBTED THAT BUT NOTION OF THAT WE STILL GOT A LOT OF WORK DO BECAUSE BIASES GIRLS CAN'T DO MATH.

IN SPITE OF TITLE IX AND ALL THE EFFORTS, ONLY 27%.

WE SHOULD BE AT 48%.

48% WORKFORCE ARE WOMEN.

WE HAVE MADE PROGRESS.

8 TO 27.

GOT A LOT MORE GO.

21%, MAYBE 25% MORE TO GO.

WHY DOES THIS MATTER?

BECAUSE GIRLS ARE GOOD AT MATH.

AND IF THEY WANT TO DO SOMETHING WITH MATH, IF THEY WANT TO BE PHYSICISTS, THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO SO.

I HAVE ACTUALLY MET A LOT OF UNDER GRAD STUDENTS WHO START AS A SCIENCE OR ENGINEERING MAJOR AND THEY DROP OUT.

SECOND YEAR, AND THE COMMON THREAD CAN'T DO WHATEVER THEY WANT TO STUDY.

SOMETHING WE NEED TO DO WITH TITLE 9, STATE LAW, LOOK FOR THINGS AND ENHANCE IT.

THINGS WE DO TO REMOVE THESE BIASES SO ITS INTERNALIZED OR EXTERNALIZED.

>>Olena: COLLEEN DID YOU WANT TO PIGGYBACK ON THAT AT ALL?

REGARDING PATSY MINK EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND EDUCATION ACT?

>> RIGHT, I THINK SO MUCH OF IT IS FOCUSED ON THE SPORTS AND WHAT TITLE IX HAS DONE THERE.

WHICH IS GREAT.

I THINK THAT'S GREAT THAT WOMEN HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITIES IN SPORTS NOW.

BUT I THINK THAT TRANSLATING THAT ACROSS THE BOARD THE WAY SHE'S TALKING ABOUT, I DO THINK, I'M SITTING HERE RACKING MY BRAIN WHAT CAN WE DO TO CHANGE TITLE IX TO MAKE IT DIFFERENT OR TO EDIT IT FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS, IN ORDER TO ENHANCE WHAT IT CAN DO FOR WOMEN.

AND IT'S JUST MAKING THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE LIKE SHE'S SAYING NOT HAVING THOSE BIASES.

IT'S MAKING SURE THAT WOMEN ARE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE THIS IS KIND OF OFF THE SUBJECT.

LISTENING TO TANYA AND IHILANI SPEAK OUR FOCUS ON LIFTING WOMEN AND THEIR FUTURES AND NOT NECESSARILY FOCUSING ON GETTING TO EXECUTIVE LEVEL COMPARABLE TO WHAT MEN'S, WHAT THEIR LEVEL OF, SORRY I'M HAVING A HARD TIME ARTICULATING.

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE TO THEM, THAT WE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO COMPARE YOU OURSELVES TO THAT AND THAT WAS FANTASTIC.

I LOVED HEARING THAT.

IT'S NOT A NEW CONCEPT OBVIOUSLY.

JUST KIND OF LIT A SPARK IN MY BRAIN.

WOW, THAT IS SO, SO TRUE.

THAT OUR SUCCESS DOESN'T HAVE TO MATCH WHAT THAT IS.

>> THAT'S SOMETHING REALLY GIVING ME FOOD FOR THOUGHT IN JUST RIGHT NOW IN MY PROGRAMMING.

HEARING THAT DISCUSSION WAS VERY FRUITFUL FOR ME.

>> LET ME ADD FROM JUST PURE LAW PERSPECTIVE.

THAT COULD BE DONE.

FOR EXAMPLE, I DON'T KNOW IF I THINK SOME OF YOU PROBABLY KNOW, THAT IN 2018, HAWAII PASSED TITLE IX STATE LAW TO PROTECT LGBTQ STUDENTS UNDER HAWAII STATE TITLE IX LAW.

WE ARE THE VERY FIRST TO DO SO IN THE NATION.

SO I FEEL VERY PROUD AND HONORED BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE WE STILL CARRYING ON PATSY MINK'S WORK.

THERE IS STILL THINGS THAT WE ARE DISCOVERING LIKE COLLEEN SAID, STARTED WITH GETTING RID OF GIRLS DON'T GO INTO SPORTS, GIRLS ARE NOT GOOD IN SPORTS, AND STARTED WITH THAT, GONE WAY BEYOND THAT.

AND WE ARE GOING CONTINUOUSLY DISCOVER NEW GENDER BASED DISCRIMINATION, LGBTQ, SEXUAL HARASSMENT PREVENTS SO MANY STUDENTS FROM GRADUATING.

I THINK THERE'S STILL A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE AS DISCOVER MORE.

UNDER THAT 37 WORDS THAT SHE CREATED.

SO I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT WE HAVE WORK TO DO NEXT 50 YEARS.

ONE DAY, I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET TO A POINT WE HAVE MORE THAN HALF OF STEM WORKERS BEING WOMEN, NOT JUST BECAUSE STEM WORKERS MAKE MORE MONEY, BECAUSE GIRLS ARE GOOD WITH MATH.

>>Olena: I THINK YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD.

TALKING MORE INCLUSIVELY, WE DID HAVE A COMMENT IN REGARDS TO TRANS WOMEN AND DISCUSSED TALKING ABOUT BIRTHING AND BEING A MOTHER.

SO I THINK THIS IS MORE SO DIRECTED TANYA DOES HEALTHY BABIES HEALTHY MOTHER PROVIDE ASSISTANCE FOR TRANS WOMEN OR MAYBE PERHAPS SAME SEX COUPLES OR MORE INCLUSIVE OF THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY?

>> IN MY SPEECH, LANGUAGE, SAY MOTHER AND BIRTHING PEOPLE TO ACKNOWLEDGE EVERYONE DOESN'T IDENTIFY AS A WOMAN.

EVERYONE DOESN'T NECESSARILY IDENTIFY AS A MOTHER.

INCLUDE PEOPLE WHO ARE BIRTHING.

SO IN ABSOLUTELY HEALTHY MOTHERS, HEALTHY BABIES, OUR STAFF OF NURSES AND WE HAVE NURSE PRACTITIONER AND MIDWIVES WHERE WE'RE INCLUSIVE OF EVERYONE WHO WANTS OUR SERVICES.

WE ARE DETERMINED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE A CARE PROVIDER THAT CAN SEE AND HEAR THEM AND TAKE CARE OF THEM IN ALL THE WAYS.

SO YEAH, WE WELCOME PEOPLE TO COME TO US FOR SERVICES.

WE WELCOME QUESTIONS.

WE WELCOME THEM TO FEEL THERE'S SOME PLACE THEY CAN GO, CARED FOR AND SEEN AND HEARD IN THOSE WAYS.

COME TO HEALTHY MOTHERS HEALTHY BABIES.

>>Olena: WHO ARE SOME OF THE KUMU WAHINE FEMALE PROFESSORS AND HOA PAPA WAHINE, FEMALE CLASSMATES, U.H.

INSPIRE YOUR WORK TODAY AND HOW?

>> (HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE).

THANKS LA'AKEA FOR THAT GREAT QUESTION.

I'VE BEEN SO LUCKY TO HAD SO MANY AMAZING WAHINE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

REALLY KUMU AND REALLY LUCKY TO BE IN A GENERATION OF HAWAIIAN SCHOLARS WHERE WE HAVE A LOT OF KUMU AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

AND SO I KNOW I WON'T BE ABLE TO NAME ALL OF THEM, IF YOU FOLKS OUT THERE ABSOLUTELY FUNDAMENTAL TO ME AND MY GROWTH AND THIS ACADEMIC GENEOLOGY AS KUMU TRASK WOULD CALL IT, WAYS OF BEING PRODUCTIVE WITHOUT A DOUBT.

(HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE).

BRILLIANT NATIVE HAWAIIAN PROFESSOR AND POLITICAL SCIENCE.

KUMU, PROFESSOR IN THE COLLEGE OF ED.

DR. SILVA, ANOTHER BRILLIANT AMAZING PROFESSOR IN POLITICAL SCIENCE.

HELPED TO FIND DISCOVER KUE PETITION FUNDAMENTAL TO THE HAWAIIAN SOVEREIGNTY MOVEMENT.

OSORIO, AMAZING PROFESSOR IN POLITICAL SCIENCE.

TEACH IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT DISCIPLINES.

BEEN AMAZING KUMU FOR ME AS ARTIST, DR. VI LLA BRILLIANT WAHINE SCHOLARS INVESTED THEMSELVES IN WORK AND COMMUNITY.

SOMEONE WHO IS KANAKA AT THE UNIVERSITY, UNDERSTANDING THAT WHAT WE DO OUR SCHOLARLY WORK, SHOULDN'T JUST EXIST IN ACADEMIA.

BUT IN COMMUNITY.

SOMETHING I LEARNED FROM ALL OF THEM.

THOSE WEREN'T ALL OF THE NAMES.

>> I WISH I COULD GET ALL OF THEM.

THESE PEOPLE HAVE EXTREMELY FUNDAMENTAL TO MY GROWTH.

MAHALO TO THEM AND MAHALO LA'AKEA FOR SUCH A GREAT QUESTION.

LOOK THEM UP.

THEY ALL HAVE BOOKS.

>>Olena: WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS AFTER YOU GRADUATE?

>> ME TOO.

ANSWER WITH A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND.

KNOWLEDGE OR BACKGROUND CONTEXT FOR ACADEMICS EXPERIENCE.

RERECENTLY GRADUATED UNIVERSITY OF THE KAUAI SPRING OF 21 BACHELORS IN ETHNIC STUDIES WOMEN GENDER AND SEXUALITY STUDIES.

BACHELORS AND A MASTERS.

SPRING OF MY SENIOR YEAR, STARTED MY MASTER'S EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATION HIGHER EDUCATION.

FINISHING THAT UP IN THE SPRING.

AS OF LAST WEEK ACCEPTED OFFER FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII TO PURSUE MY DOCTORATE IN POLITICAL SCIENCE AND SPECIFICALLY WITH INDIGENOUS POLITICS.

WITH FUNDING.

I KNOW THAT LAST PART REALLY HELPS A LOT.

IN THE FALL, I'LL BE PURSUING OR GO GETTING MY DOCTORATE DEGREE AND TEACHING AT THE UNIVERSITY.

>>Olena: WOW.

CONGRATULATIONS.

THAT'S FANTASTIC.

COLLEEN, I WANTED TO ASK A LITTLE BIT WHAT KIND OF SERVICES YOU PROVIDE FOR WOMEN IN BUSINESS, IF THEY'RE SEEKING TO OPEN THEIR OWN BUSINESS OR IF THEY ALREADY ARE BUSINESS OWNERS.

CAN YOU KIND OF ELABORATE MORE ON THAT?

>> OF COURSE.

DEFINITELY.

YES, AS A WOMEN'S BUSINESS CENTER, OVER 144 ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AS YOU SAID EARLIER, FUNDED HAWAII, WE OFFER ONE‑ON‑ONE BUSINESS, FREE ONE‑ON‑ONE BUSINESS AND LEGAL COUNSELING TO BEGINNING PRESTART ENTREPRENEURS AND SMALL BUSINESSES.

AND WE OFFER WORKSHOPS, AND COURSES ON HOW TO START YOUR BUSINESS.

HOW TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS.

IT'S WONDERFUL TO SEE THE PASSION OF ENTREPRENEURS AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS THAT A LOT OF THEM HAVE FANTASTIC IDEA TO CREATE A AMAZING PRODUCT BUT DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE THAT BUSINESS ACUMEN THAT THEY NEED TO RUN A BUSINESS.

SO WE WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE A LOT OF THAT, WHETHER IT'S MARKETING, WORKING WITH THEIR FINANCIALS, HOW THEIR FINANCIALS SHOULD BE MADE OUT, QUICK BOOKS, WORKING ON SOCIAL MEDIA, WE HAVE HOW TO GET ONLINE.

VIA BUILDING YOUR SHOPIFY WEBSITE.

ESPECIALLY NOW AFTER COVID, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR OUR SMALL BUSINESSES TO HAVE AN ONLINE PRESENCE AS WELL.

TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE RESEARCHING THEIR CUSTOMER, TARGET CUSTOMER.

WE ARE FOCUSED ON HELPING WOMEN OWN THEIR OWN SMALL BUSINESS AND WE DO WOMEN OWNED SMALL BUSINESS ROUNDTABLES QUARTERLY FOCUSED ON PLATFORM, WRITTEN BY CREATED BY THIS SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION TO SPECIFICALLY HELP WOMEN OWN SMALL BUSINESSES, CREATE BUSINESS PLAN, AND GET FUNDING.

AND THEN FOR OUR LEADERSHIP SIDE, SOLELY FOCUS ON WOMEN LEADERS, WE HAVE OUR PATSY T MINK LEADERSHIP ALLIANCE, MID CAREER WOMEN LOOKING TO INCREASE LEADERSHIP CAPACITY TO TEN MONTH, 100 HOUR PROGRAM, 20 WOMEN COHORT.

FACILITATED BY CURRENT WOMEN LEADERS AND EXECUTIVES IN OUR COMMUNITY.

REALLY WONDERFUL NETWORKING OPPORTUNITY AND RELATIONSHIP BUILDING COHORT AS WELL AS EDUCATING ON LEADERSHIP SKILLS.

ALSO HAVE ONCE WE STARTED THAT, COHORT SIX, 6TH YEAR.

STARTED WAHINE RISING PROGRAM.

FOR BEGINNING LEADERS MUCH FOUND WAS SO NECESSARY FOR THOSE WOMEN STARTING THEIR LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT JOURNEY, GETTING SUPPORT ON WHAT THAT, WHAT THEY WANT THEIR CAREER PATH TO LOOK LIKE, HOW THEY WANT TO BE SEEN AS LEADERS OR HOW THEY WENT TO BE AS A WOMAN LEADER.

SO THAT'S A SHORTER COHORT.

BUT HAVE GOTTEN A LOT OF TRACTION IN THAT PROGRAM.

REALLY EXCITED.

ALSO HAVE A GIRLS PROGRAM AS WELL.

>>Olena: FANTASTIC.

THANK YOU.

WE HAVE QUESTION FROM HELEN ON FACEBOOK.

I'M GOING TO DIRECT THIS TO YOU, TANYA.

IF YOU HAD TO TAKE ONE ACTION AT THE STATE LEVEL TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF WOMEN IN HAWAII, WHAT WOULD THAT ONE BE?

SHE GAVE SOME EXAMPLES.

LAW, POLICY, PROTESTS, STUDY, ANYTHING?

QUESTION MARK.

>> THAT'S PART OF THE WORK I DO IS POLICY DIRECTOR.

ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT POLICIES IN REGARDS TO MOTHERS AND CAREGIVERS AND THOSE WHO ARE TAKING CARE OF THOSE.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS, THINKING ABOUT CHILD CARE BETTER AND TALKING ABOUT GENDER EQUITY, GETTING WOMEN IN THE WORKFORCE, NEED TO START THINKING ABOUT THOSE WHO TAKE CARE OF THE KEIKI AND ESPECIALLY I THINK ELUCIDATED DURING COVID.

SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO COME HOME FROM THE WORKFORCE.

WHAT DO WE DO WITH OUR CHILDREN?

WHO IS TEACHING THEM?

WHO IS WATCHING THEM.

HOW CAN WE DO THIS AT THE SAME TIME?

TURNING POINT FOR US.

WOW, THIS IS WHAT MOTHERS AND PEOPLE WHO ARE PARENTING DO ALL THE TIME.

WORKING AND THEY'RE CARING FOR THE HOME CARING FOR CHILDREN.

POLICIES THINKING ABOUT HOW CAN WE STRUCTURE SOCIETY COMMUNITIES BETTER TO WHERE WE'RE BEING SUPPORTIVE OF FAMILIES.

>> TRY TO WORK OUTSIDE THE HOME MAKE MONEY, MAKE MONEY AT PAY THAT THEY CAN ACTUALLY LIVE, SO THINKING ABOUT ALL OF THOSE THING.

THINKING ABOUT MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH AND MATERNAL HEALTH IN GENERAL.

HAWAII DOES AN AWFUL JOB TO BE HONEST ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO NATIVE HAWAIIAN, BLACK, MICRONESIAN, PACIFIC ISLANDER FOLKS IN HAWAII.

THERE'S NO EXCUSE FOR IT.

WHITE WOMEN WHO ARE NOT THE MAJORITY IN HAWAII, BUT THEIR CARE IS TWO, THREE, FOUR TIMES BETTER THAN THE COMMUNITIES THAT I NAMED.

SO THINKING ABOUT WHAT IS BEHIND THAT?

WE KNOW IT'S IMPLICIT BIAS RACISM.

HOW DO WE CHANGE THAT, THE WAY PEOPLE ARE CARED FOR AND TREATED.

NOT JUST HAWAII, ACROSS THE BOARD.

ONCE WE CAN TACKLE THOSE THINGS WE CAN START THINKING ABOUT HOW DO WE LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD?

HOW DO WE MAKE THINGS TO WHERE THEY'RE MORE EQUAL.

FOR ME IN A POLICY FRONT, PUSHING LEGISLATION SUPPORTS THOSE EFFORTS PARTICULARLY ONE OF THE ONES WAS AROUND IMPLICIT BIAS DATA COLLECTION, GETTING INFORMATION, WHO IS HAPPENING TO PEOPLE ON GROUND.

WHAT ARE HAPPENING TO COMMUNITIES WE DON'T SEE AND HEAR FROM.

WHO DON'T HAVE REPRESENTATION.

YEAH, IF THERE'S ANYWAYS WE CAN UPLIFT POLICY IN SPECIFICALLY LEGISLATION THIS THOSE REGARDS, I THINK WE CAN MAKE HUGE DIFFERENCES.

BUT IT'S A FIGHT.

JUST LIKE EVERY SESSION, EVERY YEAR, WE BRING THESE KIND OF THINGS TO THE FORE.

THEY DIE.

BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW, I HATE TO SAY THIS PEOPLE DON'T CARE ABOUT IT BUT THE REALITY IS THAT THEY NEVER MAKE THROUGH TO ACTUALLY BECOME LAW.

SO I'M ALWAYS FIGHTING THAT FIGHT.

COME BACK EVERY YEAR WITH A NEW BILL.

OR A NEW POLICY OR NEW UPDATE.

TO FIGURE OUT HOW CAN WE DO THIS BETTER AND GET PEOPLE WHO CAN MAKE THOSE DECISIONS TO DO SOMETHING.

>>Olena: PROACTIVE APPROACH, LAWS THAT ARE RELEVANT TO YOU YOU WOULD LIKE CHANGED OR PUSH THEM FORWARD TO SUBMIT WRITTEN TESTIMONY, TO LEND YOUR SUPPORT OF THOSE BILLS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>>Olena: ONE OF THE THINGS THAT AAUW RESEARCHES IS PAY GAP BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN.

AND WHERE DOES THAT STAND RIGHT NOW?

>> SO THANK YOU FOR ASKING QUESTION.

TANYA WAS SPEAKING ABOUT PAY GAP I WAS THINKING ABOUT THAT THERE IS A COALITION CALLED NATIONAL COMMITTEE ON PAY EQUITY.

AAUW IS A MEMBER.

BEEN TRACKING GENDER PAY GAP SINCE 1960.

SO IN 1960, LITTLE SHORT OF 60%.

WAS COLLECTIVE FULL‑TIME WOMEN WORKERS MADE COMPARED TO WHITE MAN COLLECTIVE.

TOTAL NUMBER.

SO THAT'S 40% GAP.

SITTING AT 83% BASED ON 2020 DATA.

NOT 2021.

BUT 2020 DATA.

FULL YEAR.

INTERESTINGLY, WHEN DECIDED THAT THIS YEAR, USING 2020 DATA, THAT WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE THE METHODOLOGY BECAUSE DURING, IT WAS TANYA MENTIONED IT, CONDEMN IT AS YOU KNOW, MANY WOMEN ARE FORCED OUT OF THE WORKFORCE EITHER BECAUSE SERVICE JOBS OR RETAIL JOBS OR RESTAURANT JOBS, SOMETHING VERY FAMILIAR WITH HERE, WITH TOURISM, OR BECAUSE OF CHILD CARE.

THEY HAD TO STAY HOME.

HAD TO DROP OUT OF FULL‑TIME WORKING FULL TIME TO PART‑TIME.

SO ALL OF A SUDDEN, MEASURING BASE ON FULL‑TIME WORKERS DOESN'T LOOK RIGHT.

SO WE HAD TO CHANGE IT.

CHANGE THE METHODOLOGY TO INCLUDE EVERYONE.

AND BOY, THE NUMBERS JUST CAME OUT.

LOOKS REALLY REALLY BAD FOR WOMEN OF COLOR ACROSS ALL WOMEN OF COLOR COMPARED TO THE NUMBER FROM 2019, WHICH WAS BASED ON FULL‑TIME WORKERS.

THIS IS ACTUALLY INTRODUCED NEW CHALLENGE FOR US.

TO SAY, OKAY, WHAT IS THIS TELLING US?

YOU CANNOT JUST WORK ON EQUAL PAY LAW, USING THE STRUCTURE THAT EXISTED BEFORE.

NOW WE HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT ARE WE DOING TO ENABLE WORKING MOTHERS TO CONTINUE TO WORK, WHAT DO THEY REALLY NEED?

CHILD CARE.

FLEX HOURS.

WE KNOW THE ANSWER TO THIS.

AND THEY HAVE TO BE COORDINATED INTEGRATED INTO A SOLUTION.

YOU CANNOT DO PIECEMEAL.

NOT SOLVING ANYONE'S PROBLEM.

WE HAVE SOME REAL CONVERSATION TO BE HAD BECAUSE THIS NUMBER LOOKS REALLY BAD.

>>Olena: WHAT KIND OF THINGS ARE YOU HEARING FROM WOMEN THAT COME TO SEE YOU FOR ASSISTANCE?

>> CHILD CARE IS ALWAYS AN ISSUE.

SO IF I HAVE A COUNSELING SESSION, SINCE COVID, WE'VE BEEN DOING OUR COUNSELING REMOTELY OBVIOUSLY.

BEFORE THAT, WE WOULD HAVE WOMEN COME IN, THEY WOULD WANT ONE‑ON‑ONE BUSINESS COUNSELING.

BRING THEIR BABY IN THEIR STROLLER.

BRING A TODDLER WITH THEM.

YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE YOUR SERVICE TO THEM AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND ACCOMMODATE THEM AS WELL BECAUSE WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO?

OTHERWISE, THEY CAN'T, THEY COULDN'T COME IN AND RECEIVE SERVICES THEY NEEDED TO START OR GROW THEIR BUSINESS.

SO IT'S DEFINITELY, DEFINITELY, EVEN ACROSS OUR COHORT, LEADERSHIP COHORTS, AND OUR SMALL BUSINESS COHORTS, WE'VE SEEN THAT HIGH PERCENTAGE OF THE WOMEN HAVE HAD TO EITHER STOP WORKING, HAD TO STOP WORKING, OR THEY DID HAVE TO BACK OFF WITH HOURS IN ORDER TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR KIDS HELP THEIR KIDS IN SCHOOL DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>>Olena: YOUR ORGANIZATION PROVIDE ASSISTANCE FOR ALL GENDERS, RIGHT?

>> OH, YES.

DEFINITELY.

EVEN BUSINESS CENTER WE HELP 80% OF OUR CLIENTS ARE WOMEN.

20% ARE MEN.

>> YES.

AND ACROSS THE BOARD.

>>Olena: ARE YOU ALSO SEEING STRUGGLES AND TRIUMPHS FROM WOMEN HAVE TO DO WITH HEALTH CARE AND ALSO CHILD CARE FOR WOMEN THAT ARE SEEING YOU?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ONE OF THE BEAUTIFUL THINGS THAT CAME OUT OF THE PANDEMIC WAS JUST THIS KIND OF DATA COLLECTION AND PEOPLE WHO ARE BIRTHING, ESPECIALLY PEOPLE DID HAVE SUPPORT, WHAT IS HAPPENING TO YOU ON THE GROUND?

WHAT DO YOU MEAN WHAT IS HAPPENING?

OF COURSE, THE SAME THINGS ARE COMING UP.

LIKE I CAN'T GO SEE MY DOCTOR BECAUSE I CAN'T BRING MY CHILD.

AND I DON'T HAVE ANYONE TO TAKE CARE OF THEM.

SO HOW AM I GOING TO EVEN GET MY PRENATAL OR POST PARTUM CARE.

THINKING ABOUT WENT TO PIGGYBACK OFF OF COLLEEN SAID.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT GOING UNSPOKEN WOMEN ARE THE ONES DOING MOST OF THE CHILD REARING AND CHILD CARING.

EVEN DURING COVID, WHEN EVERYBODY IS BACK AT HOME MEN AND WOMEN, STILL THE UNPAID LABOR OF PARENTING AND MOTHERING FALLING ON WOMEN.

SO THE PARTNERS AND THE HUSBANDS AND THE SPOUSES WHO WERE THERE, THEY'RE SEEING ALL OF THIS EXTRA LABOR HAPPENING AND OH, MY GOODNESS, THAT'S WHAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING ALL OF THIS TIME WHEN I'M OUT OF THE HOUSE DOING THE WORK?

SEEING HOW MUCH WORK IT IS, BUT IT'S STILL ALL FALLING ON WOMEN.

THOSE ARE THE CONVERSATIONS WE DON'T HAVE, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EQUITY.

AND THAT IS WHERE IT NEEDS TO START.

EQUITY WITHIN THE HOME.

WHO IS DOING MOST OF THE LABOR AT HOME WHO IS DOING MOST THE CHILD CARE?

MOST OF THE CHILD REARING THINKING ABOUT ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

WE DON'T SEE MEN SPEAKING ABOUT TAKING THE CHILDREN TO THEIR APPOINTMENTS THAT THEY HAVE.

LEAVING THAT TO MOTHERS.

SO WE HAD TO RESTRUCTURE WAYS IN WHICH DID THINGS.

HOW CAN DID WE REACH PEOPLE WHO CAN'T GET TO US?

CREATED MOBILE CLINIC WENT TO PEOPLE, WE TOOK OUR VAN OUT, DROVE TO SOMEONE'S HOUSE OR APARTMENT, BRING YOUR BABY IF YOU NEED TO, COME TO THE VAN TO GET SEEN.

>> WE'LL MEET YOU WHERE YOU'RE AT.

I THINK THAT'S A LOT OF WHAT IS HAVING TO HAPPEN NOW.

MEETING PEOPLE WHERE ARE THEY AT.

WHAT ARE THE NEEDS?

WHAT DO PEOPLE NEED?

WHAT DO THEY WANT?

HOW CAN WE MAKE THINGS BETTER FOR PEOPLE IN FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT IS AND DOING THAT.

DEFINITELY BEEN A HUGE SHIFT.

ONE OF THE THINGS I KEEP SAYING DURING COVID, ONE OF THE BEAUTIFUL THINGS, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS OPENED OUR EYES UP IS UNPAID WORK AND LABOR OF CARETAKING, MOTHERING, CARING FOR OUR ELDER, SOMEONE HAS TO DO THAT WORK.

WHEN WE SAW SO MANY WOMEN HAVING TO COME HOME AND NOT BEING ABLE TO WORK, WHO DOES THAT WORK FALL ON?

AND WHO IS GETTING PAID FOR IT?

WHO ARE WE NOT PAYING?

I THINK WE STARTED TO HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT PAYING TEACHERS MORE BECAUSE WE REALIZE HOW MUCH WORK IT WAS WHEN WE HAD HOME SCHOOL THE KIDS ALL OF A SUDDEN.

SAME THING ABOUT CHILD CARE PROVIDERS.

NOW WE'RE HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT CHILD CARE.

THOSE PEOPLE DESERVE TO BE PAID LIVING WAGE BECAUSE WE'RE DOING THE WORK AND SEEING HOW MUCH WORK IT REALLY IS.

I THINK IF WE REALLY WANT TO SIT AND DO THIS RIGHT, THINKING ABOUT ALL THE OF THOSE THINGS AS WE MOVE POLICIES FORWARD, THINK ABOUT LEGISLATION AND HOW DO WE MAKE THIS BETTER ON THE GROUND, AND EMPLOYERS TOO.

>> THINKING ABOUT HOW CAN I MAKE MY WORK SPACE AND THE WORKFORCE WORK BETTER FOR ME BY TAKING CARE OF ALL OF THESE THINGS IN.

>>Olena: THANK YOU.

IHILANI.

I SEE YOU NODDING YOUR HEAD.

YOU'RE FROM THE EDUCATION BACKGROUND AT THE UNIVERSITY.

WHAT KIND OF THINGS HAVE YOU SEEN AS WELL?

>> A LOT OF WHAT EVERYONE SAID.

REALLY RESONATED WITH ME.

SO REFLECTING ON A QUESTION THAT I THINK A VIEWER HAD ABOUT THERE BEING MORE WOMEN POLITICIANS.

>> I THINK TO FLIP THAT QUESTION ON ITS HEAD A LITTLE BIT.

THE METRIC OF HOW WELL WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING AS PEOPLE OF HAWAII, AS HOW WELL WE SUPPORT WOMEN IN THE HOME.

WOMEN ARE DOING MAJORITY OF THIS CARE WORK AND IT HASN'T BEEN SINCE COVID, BUT IT'S BEEN FOR GENERATIONS.

DUE TO CAPITALISM AND PATRIARCHY.

ARTICLE THAT I CAN'T CITE AT THIS PARTICULAR MOMENT, AMAZING FEMINIST SCHOLAR CALCULATED ALL OF THE WORK THAT WOMEN DID IN THE HOUSEHOLD AS IF IT WERE A PART OF AMERICA'S GDP.

WOMEN CONTRIBUTE IMMENSELY IN THE TERMS OF REPRODUCTIVE LABOR, IN THE HOME, WITH CHILD REARING, SO THINKING ABOUT HOW IF WE WANT TO ACCEL AS A PEOPLE.

MALAMA OUR WAHINE AND BIRTHING PEOPLE.

THOSE ARE OUR COMMUNITY.

TEACHERS SPEND A LOT OF TIME WITH OUR KEIKI I SHOULD SAY, AND THE FACT THAT A LOT OF TEACHERS IN HAWAII ARE THROUGH PROGRAMS WHERE EDUCATORS ARE OUTSOURCING FROM THE CONTINENT OR ELSEWHERE, THINKING ABOUT HOW REALLY WANT TO INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITIES, ONE, STARTS AT HOME AND ACKNOWLEDGING WORK THAT MANY WAHINE DO.

ALSO ACT KNOWLEDGING THAT SO MANY OF THE FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE WITHIN THE D.O.E.

K‑12 SYSTEM AND EDUCATORS NEED TO BE COMPENSATED IN THE RATE THEY DESERVE AND WAY WE INVEST IN EDUCATION NEEDS TO BE RETHOUGHT AND REINVENTED.

AS A STATE, WE DIVESTED FROM EDUCATION AND THIS IS ACROSS THE BOARD.

NOT PAYING TEACHERS ENOUGH.

DEFUNDING PROGRAMS.

I THINK A LARGE PART OF THAT IS FOLKS IN THE LEGISLATURE, IN THE HOUSE OR STATE, WANT TO SEE IMMEDIATE RETURN ON INVESTMENT.

BUT THE FACT IS WE NEED TO INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR TEACHER AND IN OUR STUDENTS IF WE WANT TO BUILD A STRONGER FOUNDATION HOW WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD.

TWO WAYS THAT I RE‑ENVISION A STRONGER HAWAII.

WOMEN DO IN THE HOME.

ACKNOWLEDGING OUR WOMEN, KUMU FOUNDATION OF OUR COMMUNITY.

REALLY NEED TO SHIFT, CAN'T OVEREMPHASIZE THIS ENOUGH.

SHIFT AND EMPHASIZE THE WORK THAT OUR TEACHERS DO AND SHIFT OUR PRIORITIES AS A STATE TO REALLY UP LIFT OUR TEACHERS ESPECIALLY NOW WHEN THEY'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF CARE WORK ALONG WITH TEACHING.

>> PIGGYBACK OFF OF THAT.

THAT ARTICLE THAT IHILANI CITING AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WOMEN MOVING INTO THE C SUITE.

AMOUNT WOMAN, REALLY ADDD IT ALL UP, IS THE EQUIVALENT OF CEO.

OVER $700,000.

IF YOU ADD UP THE COOKING AND CLEANING AND THE ALL OF THE ROW.

IF SOMEONE HAD TO HIRE THOSE PEOPLE OUT TO DO THE THINGS, IT WOULD BE CEO PAY.

SO THINKING ABOUT THAT AND REALLY WANT TO DO THIS RIGHT.

ACTUALLY, PUTTING MONEY INTO THE PLACES TO WHERE IT WOULD MAKE THE MOST PAYOUT.

CHILD CARE, TEACHERS, CAREGIVERS.

AND THAT CENTRAL TO A COMMUNITY.

IF WE DON'T TAKE CARE OF THOSE PEOPLE, WHAT ARE WE DOING.

>>Olena: THANK YOU LADIES SO MUCH FOR BRINGING OUT WONDERFUL DISCUSSION POINT THEY WANT TO THANK OUR VIEWERS FOR PARTICIPATING IN THE DISCUSSION TONIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND ALSO, WANT TO MENTION IF YOU DO NEED ASSISTANCE, HEALTHY MOTHERS HEALTHY BABIES IS A NONPROFIT AVAILABLE, AND THE PATSY T MINK CENTER FOR BUSINESS AND LEADERSHIP, ALSO PROVIDING ASSISTANCE.

>> AND AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN OF HAWAII.

AND IHILANI IS GOING TO BE MAKING WAVES AS AN AMAZING EDUCATOR AND DOING GREAT THINGS.

SO THANK YOU LADIES ALL FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING.

TANYA SMITH.

THANK YOU.

TANYA SMITH‑JOHNSO FROM HEALTHY MOTHERS HEALTHY BABIES COALITION OF HAWAII.

PATSY T MINK BUSINESS AND LEADERSHIP.

COLLEEN MCALUNEY AND YOUNGHEE OVERLY FROM AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN OF HAWAII.

AND U.H.

MANOA GRADUATE STUDENT IHILANI LASCONIA THANK YOU EACH FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING.

NEXT WEEK ON INSIGHTS, ILLEGAL FIREWORKS GO OFF ON NEW YEAR’S EVE MAKING SOME NEIGHBORHOODS SOUND LIKE WAR ZONES, BUT AERIALS CONTINUE TO BE BLOWN THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE YEAR RATTLING RESIDENTS AND PETS.

WE’RE ASKING IF ANYTHING CAN BE DONE TO CRACK DOWN ON ILLEGAL FIREWORKS.

PLEASE JOIN US THEN.

NEXT WEEK THURSDAY RIGHT HERE.

I’M OLENA HEU FOR INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAI`I, ALOHA!