Latest news with #KaulikeNoNāMeaAPau:TowardQueerJusticeinHawaiʻi
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Hawaiʻi is celebrating World Pride. Here's what to expect this month
HONOLULU (KHON2) — Hawaiʻi is celebrating World Pride with a statewide calendar of events that shine a light on the islands' long, rich history of gender and sexual diversity. From Oʻahu to Kauaʻi to Maui, pride this year is more than a celebration. It is also a powerful reflection of history, justice and community healing. On Monday, June 2, the Hawaiʻi State Capitol raised the Pride flags for the first time in state history. 'Really excited that on June 1, for the first time in history, the Hawaiʻi State Capitol will be displaying the pride flag,' Dean Hamer, co-founder of the Lei Pua ʻAla Queer Histories Project, said. 'And it's actually the progressive pride flag, which includes the LGBTQ community and the familiar rainbow, as well as intersex folks and, trans folks and people of color and people affected by HIV Aids.' 'There will be eight flags, right on Beretania Avenue, right in front of the Capitol, a real symbol of our pride and also of unity,' Hamer added. On June 4, a new historical marker will be unveiled at Queen's Surf Beach in Waikīkī. 'There's going to be the unveiling of a new historical marker that reminds people what a center this was for the gay community starting in the 1970s that is now being regained,' Hamer explained. For many years, Queen's Surf Beach was a safe haven for those looking to safely enjoy outdoor activities and for those looking to experience community and camaraderie. 'It's going to be a really fun celebration at Queen's Surf Beach Waikīkī, right next to the aquarium,' Hamer added. 'Remarks by the mayor as well as, and a ceremony and a nice free picnic.' You can click here for more information. Joe Wilson, co-founder of the Lei Pua ʻAla Queer Histories Project, shared a special project happening on Kauaʻi. 'And on Kauaʻi, throughout the month of June, but launching at a wonderful event on May 30 at the Kauaʻi Community College Performing Arts Center, will be a display called Tahlequah, known as Kaulike No Nā Mea A Pau: Toward Queer Justice in Hawaiʻi ,' Wilson said. The permanent exhibit for this is located in Honolulu at the King Kamehameha V Judiciary History Center, but the traveling exhibit is being take to our neighbor islands, beginning with Kauaʻi. 'It's just a wonderful exhibit that looks at the span of time in Hawaiʻi and the ways in which the lives of people across the spectrum of gender and sexual diversity have intersected with the legal system here in Hawaiʻi,' he can click here for more information. Another powerful event is taking place at the historic Hawaiʻi Theatre. 'On June 10, we're really excited to be partnering with the Hawaiʻi LGBT Legacy Foundation to do a very special screening of a film from 1993 called How in Paradise,' Wilson said. The film is produced and directed by Sarah Banks and Kate Sample. The documentary looks at life in Hawaiʻi through the perspective of 30 lesbian women who were 'putting themselves' out at a time when these issues are really just beginning to turn. 'This is going to be a very exciting event that actually serves as the preview launch of the upcoming Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival,' Wilson added. 'It's free and open to the public, and tickets can be reserved on the Hawaiʻi Theatre website.' You can click here for more information. Wilson also spoke about a collaboration on Maui. 'We're also quite excited about a partnership we've had with the Maui Public Art Corps called Hui Alo Lei PUA Ala,' explained Wilson. 'And this is an effort, to interview and create intergenerational dialog between, people in the queer community, to share their stories and then invite creative performing artists to interpret those interviews in a beautiful pop-up performance.' This pop-up event is a special event that is part of the Aloha Maui Pride celebrations. 'So, on June 14, the amazing Native Hawaiian artist Christopher Kawi Morgan is going to be doing one of those performances that spoke to him. And he, I think, is titling it Hidden in Plain Sight,' Wilson said. You can click here for more information. Hamer highlighted a recurring cultural performance in June. 'This special event will be taking place every Wednesday in June. So, the 4, the 11, the 18 and the 25. There is a special performance of The Return of Kapaemāhū, an amazing hula performance about the healer stones at the time of Māhū,' he said. 'That's performed right in Waikīkī at the hula mound on the beach. It's free and open to the public,' Hamer explained. 'It's a really spectacular performance that combines classic hula with modern music and the lovely story of these four healers. That's every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.' You can click here for more information. Aloha Maui Pride kicked off with a welcome brunch on Sunday, June 1 at Nalu's in Kihei. The Maui County Proclamation and Flag Raising ceremony took place at the Maui County Building in Wailuku. You can click here and here for a more detailed look at Maui's Pride celebrations that run through June 14 and culminate with a community festival. The 7th Annual Kauaʻi Pride Parade & Festival is scheduled for Saturday, June 7. The parade will begin at Vidinha Stadium at 10 a.m. and will proceed along Rice Street to the Historic County Building Lawn, where a family-friendly festival will be held from 11 a.m. to 2p.m. Organizers said the event promotes peace, acceptance and unity for everyone on the island, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, race, ethnicity, religious affiliation or background. You can click here for more information. Honolulu Pride takes place during the month of October. However, many local LGBTQ+ organizations will be hosting events throughout the month of June. Click here for a community calendar. You can click here for more information. Hawaiʻi Island gets two Pride celebrations. One is taking place in Kona between Sept. 12 and 14. You can click here for more information. There is also a celebration in Hilo, but we're still waiting on the details for this one. Get news on the go with KHON 2GO, KHON's morning podcast, every morning at 8 It's World Pride Month. It's a time to celebrate lokahi and ʻohana. And it's a time to remember how hard it was in our modern world to get to a point of acceptance. So, Happy Pride, everyone. This celebration is for everyone. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Don't miss this: Kauaʻi's most important exhibit of the summer opens May 30
HONOLULU (KHON2) — A groundbreaking exhibit documenting Hawaiʻi's queer past is making its way to Kauaʻi this summer to offer residents and visitors alike a powerful opportunity to learn, connect and reflect. Kaulike No Nā Mea A Pau: Toward Queer Justice in Hawaiʻi will open on May 30 at the Performing Arts Center at Kauaʻi Community College and remain on display throughout the month of June. It's part of celebrating Pride Month by uplifting the lives and legacies of Hawaiʻi's LGBTQ+ communities. Meet Hawaiʻi award-winning student filmmakers who swept HIFF, ʻŌlelo YXC awards this year The traveling exhibit is part of Lei Pua ʻAla, a project co-founded by Joe Wilson and Dean Hamer. The project is focused on documenting and memorializing gender and sexual diversity throughout Hawaiʻi's complex and multicultural history. 'We are really excited to be working with folks on Kauaʻi who wanted to bring the beautiful exhibit that was mounted at the King Kamehameha the Fifth Judiciary History Center last year,' said Wilson. 'It's a beautiful exhibit that takes viewers on a journey across the different time periods in Hawaiʻi, as foreigners were arriving, as new religious influences and other types of ideas were mixing, creating a new legal landscape under which people across the spectrum of gender and sexual diversity had to figure out how to live their lives.' The Hawaiʻi State Commission on LGBTQ+ Affairs member Philip Steinbacher was a key component in bringing this exhibition to Kauai. 'One of my objectives as Commissioner is to increase LGBTQ+ happenings and community involvement on Kauaʻi, and this just seemed like the perfect opportunity to do that' explained Commissioner Steinbacher. 'It is my hope that Kaua'i residents take advantage of the chance to learn more about LGBTQ+ history here. Kaua'i is known for its strong sense of community, where residents support each other, and in my mind this should be no less true because of sexual orientation, gender identification, or gender expression.' His journey of discovery of his chosen home led Commissioner Steinbacher to see the depths of Hawaii's unique history and culture. 'While this journey mirrors similar narratives from other cultures and other places, it is Hawai'i's unique story that warrants hearing by many,' he added. 'I had the opportunity to view the Kaulike No Nā Mea A Pau exhibit in October 2024 when I visited Oʻahu for Honolulu Pride. I was deeply moved by the narrative that Dean Hamer and Joe Wilson created, and it sparked a hope that this story might be shared with a broader audience, explained Commissioner Steinbacher. 'I have lived on Kaua'i for more than twenty years but only had an inkling of the struggles and successes of the Māhū, LGBTQIA+/MVPFAFF+ community in Hawai'i.' Though the exhibit debuted in Honolulu and remains partially on view at the Judiciary History Center in the Supreme Court building, its expansion to Kauaʻi marks a deeper effort to include voices and experiences from our neighbor islands. 'For us, it's been really exciting because, as you said, so many things are taking place in the urban core of Honolulu,' said Wilson. 'We've been working really hard to create links and conversations between and among people on neighbor islands. There's so much important work happening in community organizations in those places.' The exhibit is free and designed to be accessible to all. And it's not just something to look at. It's an invitation to participate.'We're very open to hearing more stories, especially on the outer islands,' said Hamer. 'Our website, Queer Histories of Hawaiʻi, has an easy contact form. We do encourage people to tell us about stories. Some of the most interesting stories that we found have been on the outer islands— in Maui and Molokaʻi and Kauaʻi.' 'There are other couple stories on Kauaʻi that we're interested to work with folks to bring further forward,' added Wilson. One example is the Atherton Garden, part of the National Tropical Botanical Garden on Kauaʻi's south shore. Its layered past touches on intersections of Hawaiian culture, environmental history and queer identity. Another site, near the mouth of the Wailua River, is connected to moʻolelo that include gender fluidity and same-sex love. 'There are also, throughout the islands, many sites that are involved in ancient legends and lāʻau that involve same-sex relationships or gender fluidity,' said Hamer. 'We might think of those as woke ideas, but they're very, very long lasting and embedded in Hawaiian history.' Can't make it to the exhibit in person? Much of the project's material lives online. Lei Pua ʻAla features a Hawaiʻi Queer Histories Map available on its website and through the Bloomberg Connects app. The map includes everything from ancient monuments honoring gender-fluid healers to the sites of legal battles over marriage equality. Visitors can also view Kauaʻi Pride's short video which is co-hosted on the project's website. It features interviews with residents sharing personal stories about struggle, pride and community. 'They've allowed us to co-host that on our website, too,' said Wilson. 'So, people can watch that video and get ready for the upcoming Kauaʻi Pride by seeing that story.' 1. Respect the culture and context This exhibit is rooted in Kanaka ʻŌiwi worldviews and reflects deep traditions of aloha, ʻohana and moʻokūʻauhau. These stories are not curiosities or tourist attractions. They are real histories from real lives. Approach with humility and care. Speak thoughtfully, ask permission if you're taking photos in sensitive areas and be mindful of the cultural weight of what is being shared. 2. Use the map as a starting point, not an end The Hawaiʻi Queer Histories Map offers a broad look at key sites across the islands. But don't treat it like a checklist. Each place deserves more than a quick photo. Do some research, read the moʻolelo and understand why these sites matter before you arrive. And always remember that many places are sacred. 3. Avoid stereotyping or romanticizing māhū identities Many of the stories shared in the exhibit reflect the lives of māhū, those who embody both kāne and wahine spirit. Māhū identity is complex and culturally significant. It's not the same as transgender or nonbinary in Western frameworks. Don't reduce it to a concept or curiosity. Listen first, learn carefully and speak with respect. 4. This is not the mainland Some behaviors that might be common in urban queer spaces elsewhere may not translate well here. Public displays of affection, performative allyship or uninvited activism can be seen as disrespectful, especially in more rural or conservative areas. Engage locally. Support community-led events like Kauaʻi Pride. Learn who is doing the work and follow their lead. 5. Be part of the story Lei Pua ʻAla isn't just collecting history. It's building it. If you have a story to share or know someone who does, reach out through the website. 'People live and live their lives and do their queer stuff every place in the islands,' said Hamer. 'And even a story that sounds the same can turn out to be very, very different when it's told by people on a different island.' 'There is a local saying — One island, many people, all Kauaians — and this exhibit seems to offer a great chance to stand by that and support all Kaua'i's people,' said Commissioner Steinbacher. Kaulike No Nā Mea A Pau is more than an exhibit. It's a homecoming for stories long pushed aside. It's a space where history breathes and identities are honored. And for Kauaʻi, it's a long-overdue recognition that queer lives have always been part of the fabric of Hawaiʻi. You can click to learn more about the exhibit and Lei Pua 'Ala. Get news on the go with KHON 2GO, KHON's morning podcast, every morning at 8 'It's really helpful to have folks from those islands talking to us, because that's a history that is even less well known,' said Hamer. 'Especially here in Honolulu, where so many of the big structures are.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
