WAILUKU, Maui — With seven domestic violence homicides in the state this year and a worsening economy, advocates say there's greater urgency to let victims know that they can find help in their communities, The Maui News reported.

"This is a year that we should get the message out more," said Craig Hirayasu, chairman of the Maui County Domestic Violence Task Force, noting the high number of domestic violence killings statewide. "The more we can make people aware of it, the less chances of it happening."

As part of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October, organizations that provide services to domestic violence victims are planning a silent march and vigil to honor victims Thursday in Kahului, an "Aloha For Our Keiki" event Saturday in Lahaina and a lunchtime stand against domestic violence in front of Maui Community College on Oct. 17 during a daylong training session on the fundamentals of domestic violence.

Since the Maui Police Department began tracking domestic violence cases in January 1992, the number of abuse cases reported annually in Maui County has more than doubled. Last year, 4,364 abuse cases were reported, a 155 percent increase over the 1,710 cases in 1992.

Through September this year, 2,820 abuse cases have been reported. Police also have investigated 102 temporary restraining order violations, 161 violations of protective orders and 405 other domestic violence-related incidents in the first nine months of this year.

In Maui County, 589 temporary restraining orders were issued in 2007.

Last year, police made 493 arrests for abuse.

Through September of this year, there were 359 arrests for abuse as well as 219 arrests for violations of temporary restraining orders and orders for protection.

Police are seeing an increase in domestic cases involving verbal disputes, possibly because more people are losing jobs in the economic downturn, said acting Sgt. Ron Tamanaha, who runs the MPD Domestic Violence Unit and is part of the task force.

"Hopefully, we can try to educate and inform people about domestic violence," Tamanaha said.

In many of the domestic violence deaths this year, victims didn't seek help, said Stacey Moniz, executive director of Women Helping Women on Maui.

"I know there are a ton of victims out there that are just not asking for help for some reason," she said. "Maybe there's still a stigma attached to calling for help. There are things we can do. There's a safety net. It isn't perfect, but it is helpful for hundreds of women every year."

Women Helping Women runs a shelter that has housed an average of more than 200 women and children a year, Moniz said. She said the agency also has helped 300 to 400 victims a year obtain temporary restraining orders. Last year, its hot line received 11,000 calls, including 2,200 that were from people in crisis. Collect calls also are accepted at the hot line number, 808-579-9581.

For help with temporary restraining orders, people can call Women Helping Women at 808-242-0775 in Wailuku, 808-661-7111 in West Maui and 808-565-6700 on Lana'i.

Two other agencies in Maui County offer help to obtain temporary restraining orders and provide other services for both victims and perpetrators of domestic violence.

• Child & Family Service, which provides services on Moloka'i, Lana'i and Maui, including Hana, can be reached at 808-877-6888.

• Parents And Children Together, which houses the Family Peace Center for intervention for both victims and perpetrators of domestic violence at its Wailuku location, can be reached at 808-244-2330.

For some in Maui County, the reality of domestic violence struck when a murder-suicide was reported Aug. 31 on Lana'i.

Police said 31-year-old Kim Batoon was shot to death by her husband, Gerry Batoon, 41, who then killed himself. The shootings occurred as Kim Batoon was moving out of the couple's home. The couple left behind five children, including an infant.

At a vigil a few days later in Lana'i City, more than 300 people showed up to walk around the square in the center of town.

"It was so quiet. Nobody was talking," Moniz said. "It just shows how much love there is in that community for the families involved. Everybody had a personal connection."

Lucy Feinberg, Maui regional director of Parents And Children Together, said the agency's staff was inundated with requests for grief counseling.

"It touched every person on Lanai and many of them were looking for answers," she said. "There was a tremendous outpouring of grief.

"So now the community is more aware. But it's after the fact," Feinberg said. "People are living in total denial."

In West Maui, the "Aloha For Our Keiki" event Saturday will include face painting, balloon animals and a play by a children's theater troupe. The event was organized to call attention to how domestic violence affects children, including the 12 children who lost parents in domestic violence homicides this year, said Pema Gilman, program coordinator for Women Helping Women in West Maui.

"It's been a pretty horrendous year," she said. "What we want to do is celebrate and honor our children.

"People have got to realize. It may not be happening in your house, it may not be happening in your family. But if it's happening in your community, it affects you."

For more Maui news, visit www.mauinews.com.