Edie Ignacio Neumiller, Kaua‘i commissioner on the Hawai‘i State Commission on the Status of Women, said the wearing of pink by county Department of Water employees is a commission event that started during the time she was a DOW employee.
“This is a status-of-women thing,” Neumiller said. “Jonell Kaohelauli‘i picked this Friday to be the photo day when all DOW employees wearing pink could be photographed. Actually, Jonell adjusted this so, today, every Friday in October is pink day.”
Regina Carvalho, chair of the Kaua‘i County Committee on the Status of Women, thanked the group, including DOW employee Christine Erorita who is a breast-cancer survivor, for their efforts at ending breast cancer forever.
Through the efforts of the Kaua‘i County Committee on the Status of Women, the county has been illuminating with pink lights the Historic County Building and the Mo‘ikeha Building at the Lihu‘e Civic Center in observance of October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
“Most of us know someone who has been diagnosed with breast cancer, and we have seen the suffering and effects it has had on the patient and their families,” Carvalho said.
“Although this is a challenging time, please don’t make COVID-19 an excuse. Schedule your regular screening because early detection and diagnosis is key.”
This is the fourth year the Historic County Building has been lit with pink lights. The tradition has expanded to the Mo‘ikeha Building joining the illuminated buildings for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
The public has been encouraged to wear pink throughout the month of October to show support for those affected by breast cancer.
This challenge has been answered by a number of community groups like the Kaua‘i Pop Warner Football League, whose staff wear pink at all October games, the players don pink s0cks, and the officials from the Kaua‘i Officials Association don pink during their officiating games at the Pop Warner and Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation football games.
“Building awareness is important, but taking action is essential,” Carvalho said. “The Kaua‘i Committee on the Status of Women encourages regular screenings and monthly self-exams, because early detection of breast cancer saves lives. Mahalo to the County of Kaua‘i and all those who help make our pink vision a reality.”
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
