‘We need to do more’: Domestic violence victims remembered in candlelight vigil

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A candlelight vigil was held on the grounds of the State Capitol Wednesday evening to commemorate the lives lost to domestic violence in Hawaii and to highlight efforts to raise awareness and resources to a problem that is still resulting in deaths.
A big part of the vigil was to “make sure that we say the names of the individuals who have passed away by domestic violence in the last year,” said Monique Ibarra, CEO of the Domestic Violence Action Center, which spearheaded the vigil. “It’s important to remember our victims and to honor the families and bring healing to our community.”
Christina Baca was one of the names read at the vigil. Her body was found with gunshot wounds last month in a storm drain near U.H. Manoa. HPD said murder suspect Gibran Copeland was her boyfriend.
“There’s been the presence of firearms. We know that some of them have been choked or strangled,” said Angelina Mercado, executive director of the Hawaii Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
According to data compiled by the National Network to End Domestic Violence, on one night in September of last year, 365 adult and child victims of domestic violence were counted in Hawaii shelters. There were 110 calls for domestic violence hotlines. But victims also made 20 requests for services that couldn’t be met because of a lack of resources.
Theresa Cachuela had a protective order against her estranged husband when he shot to her to death three days before Christmas last year. Her mother was at the vigil.
“Honestly, I’m still in shock,” said Lucita Ani-Nihoa. “I still cannot believe that she’s gone, and I wish she was still here because it’s like a hole, you know? Like, I feel broken.”
That heartache is fueling awareness and change.
“We’re going to continue to recruit psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers so that we have just more capacity because a lot of people would like to get help, and tragically they don’t, they can’t find someone who can help them in time,” said Gov. Josh Green.
“We need to do more,” said Ibarra. “Domestic violence is still happening. We don’t want to list another name of somebody who’s passed away from domestic violence. We want to make sure that there’s more being done to support the survivors in our community.”
The victims’ families are also trying to find healing.
“I forgive… I’m starting to forgive a lot that has happened,” said Ani-Nihoa. “And that’s the only reason why I can stand out here and just give everybody else hope, and give my daughter a voice and give everybody else one voice who needs to have a voice to speak up and to say, hey, this is not right.”
Thirteen names were read at the vigil. They were:
If you are experiencing domestic violence, help is available from the Domestic Violence Action Center. A link to hotlines is available here.
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