Students and faculty joined together to participate and support the  “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” event that was coordinated by Kauimakamae Uwekoolani, a senior at Kamehameha Schools Maui.

“[I did it] to raise awareness of domestic violence,” she said. “[It’s a subject that I have] a passion for learning about. When I grew up, I witnessed a lot of domestic violence, and it was really traumatizing to me…I wanted to make the community aware that it’s a problem today.”

Students rallied to cheer on the boys and male faculty who walked around the quad wearing high heels. Handheld signs and posters on sawhorses marking the route promoted awareness to the lunchtime crowd as well.

The participants had to walk one lap, but most exceeded the expectation. Dylan Fisher, a senior, practically ran almost the entire time, which led to other students running as well.

“It wasn’t actually that hard for me, but it hurt my feet a little because the shoes were so tight,” Fisher said.

Walk a Mile in Her Shoes is an event that was created by Frank Baird in 2001. Once a dare, the event has now become a movement that raises money world-wide for local rape crisis centers, domestic violence shelters and other sexualized violence education, prevention and remediation programs.

Uwekooolani’s project was done to raise awareness, and did not involve fundraising.

In the morning, students also advertised Domestic Violence Awareness Month on the corner of ʻAʻapueo Parkway and Haleakalā Highway.

The high heels that the boys used were supplied by Women Helping Women, an emergency shelter and program for victims of domestic violence.

“It’s an amazing event to have every year,” junior  Jessica Mendiola said. “It was pretty awesome how our school does events like this.”

Gallery • 8 Photos

Photo by Destinee Murray

Male students challenge themselves to run in heels.