The idea of a Women in Transition Seminar was initiated several years ago by the national organization, American Association of University Women. The organization encouraged local branches to hold an event that would encourage women to seek and complete whatever educational pathways they may have considered but either never started or never finished. The Kona branch of AAUW has partnered with the University of Hawaii Center, West Hawaii and Hawaii Community College to offer three such Women in Transition Seminars in the past six years.

Why do we do it and who do we do it for?

Our seminar is for women of West Hawai’i from North Kohala to Ocean View Estates who are considering an educational transition. These transitions may be any of the following:

• high school dropout to high school graduate or community college student,
• high school graduate to community college student,
• community college to four year college student,
• employed or unemployed to retrained,
• housewife or stay-at-home to school or work.

While many jobs are available to the working women of West Hawai’i, the high employment rate has many under-trained/skilled workers holding two jobs to increase their income. Women still remain locked in lower paying jobs without increased education and/or training that would provide new career opportunities. In addition, part time positions often do not include complete medical/health benefits. For many such workers, holding multiple jobs increases the stress on not only the individual workers themselves, but also on their families/children.

We want to inspire women to consider further education and skills development as a pathway to new employment opportunities, and increased self esteem. We believe that this leads to financial and social improvement for themselves, their families, and for the Hawai'i community. As important as this educational information is, another need that is addressed is providing for these West Hawai'i women the challenge, motivation and inspiration to make a change in their lives. Because WIT gives interested women a chance to interact with each other informally, a cohort of women in transition sometimes develops which continues when the women embark on their transitional experiences.

Dec. 2006
Laurel Gregory
WIT Chair