Photos: 2026 International Women’s Day at UH Hilo

Posted on March 11, 2026 by Staff

The mood at the event was one of celebration and connection while honoring the impact of women everywhere.

Two women sit at a table with banner UH Hilo LGBTQ Center. — UH Hilo’s LGBTQ Center had an info table at the International Women’s Day Celebration held March 6, 2026. Growing from early 20th-century labor and suffrage movements, International Women’s Day is now a global day for celebrating women’s achievements and raising awareness. Learn more. (Photo: Campus Center/UH Hilo)

By Susan Enright/UH Hilo Stories.

Ellen Meiser casual portrait. — Ellen Meiser (File photo)

The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo celebrated 2026 International Women’s Day last Friday with a four-hour event filled with activities and inspiration. This year’s theme, “Give to Gain,” kept everyone focused on the importance of supporting one another.

“The goal was to hold an event that celebrated women and their achievements across history, promoted self-care and health, and inspired the UH ʻohana,” says Ellen Meiser, assistant professor of sociology and lead organizer of the event. “This was done through a bunch of fun activities: lei making, a small student teach-in by gender and women studies and history students, a dance workshop, food and culture presentations, and informational tabling. It went really well.”

Photos by Pili Saigusa/Campus Center/UH Hilo (click/tap for full size):

Students doing crafts while seated at a table.

Students looking at items at an info table.

Held at the lānai fronting Mookini Library, the event was hosted by the Campus Center, Women’s Center, LGBTQ+ Center, Recreation and Wellness Center, Global Exchange, Hiloverse RISO (Registered Independent Student Organizations), and faculty from the College of Arts and Sciences.

Meiser says well over 200 students attended throughout the four hours of festivities. Students explored information booths and participated in activities such as the Confidence Café, the Self-Care & Affirmation Station, and the Lei Stand. The mood was one of celebration and connection with each other while honoring the impact of women everywhere.