Mission, Vision & History

Who We Are

Women Sitting on the Stairs, Survivor Services, YWCA Kaua'i

YWCA of Kaua‘i is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.

YWCA Kaua‘i is a leader on issues of women’s empowerment and the elimination of racism on the island of Kaua‘i and across the state of Hawai‘i.

When founded in 1921, our early mission was to help young women who had very few or no contacts outside the home. In our 102 year history, the needs of Kaua‘i’s residents have changed greatly and the work of YWCA Kaua‘i has evolved to meet those needs. Today, our programs focus on women’s empowerment, racial justice, and violence prevention and intervention in response to sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse. We seek to eliminate family violence in all of its forms, provide treatment to those who have been traumatized by violence, and provide the skills necessary for individuals who were once violent to live productive and caring lives.

to eliminate racism,
empower women,
and promote peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all people.

Key Dates in YWCA History

  • 1858

    The first association in the U.S., Ladies Christian Association, formed in New York City

  • 1921

    YWCA Kaua‘i founded.

  • 1946

    Interracial Charter adopted, starting the process of desegregation

  • 1960s

    Membership and leadership positions opened to non-Christians

  • 1963

    Direct Action Program begun to ensure full desegregation in community YWCAs

  • 1970

    The One Imperative (“To thrust our collective power towards the elimination of racism, wherever it exists, by any means necessary.”) adopted

  • 2015

    Corporate name changed from “Young Women’s Christian Association of the United States of America, Inc.” to “YWCA USA, Inc.”

FAQs

  • YWCA of Kaua’i was officially founded on May 5, 1921. Ms. Elsie Wilcox served as the first elected President (pictured below on the left), an office she held for five years. On the rural island of Kaua’i, the organization quickly established itself as a leader and advocate for women’s and immigrants’ rights.

  • YWCA and YMCA are not affiliated in any way. YWCA Kauaʻi is a local association of the YWCA USA network, which is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.

  • In 2015, YWCA USA formally changed its corporate name from the “Young Women’s Christian Association of the United States of America, Inc.” to “YWCA USA, Inc.” YWCA rebranded to provide inclusivity for people of all ages, genders, and religions.

  • Gender-based violence is intersectional to many racial and social justice issues. We recognize that we cannot effectively intervene with violence without also intervening with systemic inequities. Advancing racial and social justice is instrumental in our work to eliminate violence.