Kumu Hina

Pacific Islander Culture, Gender Identity Focus of University of Hawaiʻi West Oʻahu series

The University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu welcomes distinguished visiting scholar and Kanaka Maoli teacher, cultural practitioner and community leader Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu to UH West Oʻahu for a film screening and a series of presentations this February. Wong-Kalu is a founding member and outreach specialist for Kulia Na Mamo, a community organization with a mission to improve the quality of life for māhū wahine (transgender women) and cultural director for Hālau Lōkahi public charter school.

All events are free and open to the public, and sponsored by the UH West Oʻahu Distinguished Visiting Scholars Program.

The program brings seasoned scholars and practitioners in the humanities, social sciences, and indigenous arts, traditions and cultures to UH West Oʻahu for the benefit of students, faculty, staff and the community.

Event information

• Kumu Hina reception, film screening and discussion
  Monday, February 23, 4–7 p.m.
  UH West Oʻahu, Campus Center Multi-purpose Room, C208

  UH West Oʻahu will host a film screening of the documentary Kumu Hina followed by a discussion with Wong-Kalu and Kuma Hina Director/Producers Joe Wilson and Dean Hamer. Kumu Hina is told through the lens of Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, an extraordinary Native Hawaiian who is both a proud and confident māhū (transgender woman) and an honored and respected kumu (teacher) and community leader. The documentary focuses on her struggle to maintain Pacific Islander culture in the midst of a modern day Hawaiʻi influenced by Western values.

• “Māhū-Beyond the Binary” class presentation and discussion
  Tuesday, February 24, 2–3:20 p.m.
  UH West Oʻahu, Classroom Building D253

  Wong-Kalu will discuss transgender identity with UH West Oʻahu students taking a sociology of sexuality class. There will be a 30 minute presentation followed by a question and answer session.

• Panel discussion with Wong-Kalu
  Wednesday, Feb. 25, 5-6:20 p.m.
  UH West Oʻahu, Classroom Building D141

  Wong-Kalu and UH West Oʻahu students taking gender and sexuality in literature and film English class will discuss Western and Pacific Islander constructions of gender identities in a panel presentation format.

See Photos of Event HERE.

Posted: 5th Mar 2015

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