Human trafficking activist, founder of Girl Fest Hawaii to run for Congress

Kathryn Xian, an activist who has pushed the state to address human trafficking and has sought to empower women through Girl Fest, said Monday that she will run for Congress.

Xian will seek the Democratic nomination in urban Honolulu’s 1st Congressional District, which is being vacated by U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, who is challenging U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz in the Democratic primary.

Honolulu City Councilman Stanley Chang, Honolulu City Councilman Ikaika Anderson, state Sen. Will Espero and state Rep. K. Mark Takai are the other declared candidates for Congress.

Xian said she plans to make a formal announcement next Monday.

Xian is the executive director of the Pacific Alliance to Stop Slavery. She is also the founder of Girl Fest Hawaii, which uses education and art to raise awareness about violence against women.