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雞蛋花的世界：《跨性夏威夷》Plumeria World: "Cross of Hawaii" -- 知名影評─但唐謨, Taiwanese Film Critic Dàn Táng Mó
- Posted on 31st Oct
- Category: news
雞蛋花的世界：《跨性夏威夷》《新郎的花季》Plumeria World: "Cross of Hawaii" & "Groom Youth"
知名影評─但唐謨 - Film Critic, Dàn Táng Mó
雞蛋花是一種生長在熱帶地區的花，五個花瓣中襯著一抹暈黃。根據《魔幻香草百科》，雞蛋花是陰性／女性的代表，具有愛情的魔法；佛陀則是它的至神。在印度，雞蛋花是代表著永恆不朽，因為它有著堅韌的生長力。在東南亞／南亞地區，某些場合（例如峇里島的傳統戲劇表演）中的男性也會在耳畔戴著一朵雞蛋花。雞蛋花在燥動的亞洲／太平洋熱帶，為陽剛的男性增添了一份陰柔之美。
Plumeria is a growth in the tropics flowers, five petals set off by a touch of dusky. According to the "magic herb encyclopedia", frangipani is negative / behalf of women, with a love of magic; Buddha is it to God. In India, frangipani is representing immortality, because it has a tough vigor. In the Southeast / South Asia, some cases (such as Bali traditional theater) in men also wore a frangipani in the ears. Asia / Pacific tropical eggs spend agitation for masculine men adds a feminine beauty.
紀錄片《跨性夏威夷》的男／女主角荷娜就非常喜歡在頭上帶著一朵雞蛋花，搭配他壯碩的體格，呈現了一份力與美的陰性魅力。《跨性夏威夷》記錄一段遙遠文化下的性別之旅。位處太平洋的夏威夷也有著長遠殖民歷史，雖然是美國的一州，當地的傳統仍然是南島文化。傳統夏威夷的性別概念，除了男女之外，還有一種介於兩者之間的性別「māhū」。māhū兼具男女兩種性別，也同時擁有兩者的優越性；但是經過長久的歐洲殖民，象徵夏威夷當地傳統性別文化的māhū也受到了打壓。
Documentary "Cross of Hawaii," the male / female Hena would very much like eggs in the head with a flower, with his burly physique, showing a negative power and beauty of the charm. "Cross of Hawaii" record period of sex tours under distant culture. Located in the Pacific Ocean, Hawaii also has a long-term colonial history, although it is part of the United States, local tradition is still Austronesian culture. Traditional Hawaiian concept of gender, in addition to men and women, there is a cross between gender between "māhū." māhū both men and women of both sexes, and also has the advantages of both; but after a long European colonization, a symbol of Hawaiian culture, local traditional gender māhū also been suppressed.
《跨性夏威夷》是一個性別認同之旅，同時也是個國族認同的過程。主角荷娜曾經是個青澀的原住民少年，但是他陰柔的個性卻引來嘲笑，「māhū」就是一句罵他的用語；但是少年的他並不知道māhū的意思。在成長的路程中，他／她漸漸發掘到了māhū的意義，也漸漸發掘自己的身體和性別。這部片記錄了跨性別的荷娜如何在現代夏威夷社會，努力維護傳統價值；還原陰陽合體的māhū原始所象徵的驕傲，榮耀及尊嚴。她教授一群少年夏威夷傳統歌舞，把在地文化教育下一代；她即使穿著女裝，但是她精力充沛，聲音洪亮，陽剛味十足；她的愛情生活卻也和一般人一樣充滿著起起伏伏。但是她也必須面對社會的壓力：她的學生中有個生理女的「男孩」，卻被迫分類到「女孩」那一邊……
"Cross of Hawaii" gender identity is a journey, but also a national identity in the process. Hena protagonist once a Sentimental Aboriginal boy, but he was attracted ridicule feminine personality, "māhū" is a curse of his term; however, he did not know māhū teenager meaning. Growing up journey, he / she gradually discover the meaning māhū also gradually explore their bodies and sex. This film records the transgender Hena how modern Hawaiian society, efforts to preserve traditional values; yin and yang to restore the original assembly māhū symbolized the pride, honor and dignity. She teaches a group of teenagers traditional Hawaiian dance, to educate the next generation of local culture; she even dressed women, but she energetic, loud, masculine flavor; her love life and ordinary people but also as full of ups and downs. But she also must face the social pressure: her students to have a physiological woman "boy", was forced to classify the "girl" side ......
兼具陽剛與陰柔的荷娜，她的性別認同和她的國族／文化認同是連結在一起，兩者密不可分。《跨性夏威夷》介紹了一份少有人知，但是彌足珍貴的「酷兒」文化，以及西方殖民長期加諸於於酷兒／同志的壓抑。
Hena both masculine and feminine, her gender identity and her country's ethnic / cultural identity are linked together, the two are inseparable. "Cross of Hawaii," describes a little-known, but precious "queer" culture, as well as long-term Western colonialism imposed in queer / gay repression.
荷娜經常戴在頭上的那朵雞蛋花（Frangipani），也正是斯里蘭卡同志電影《新郎的花季》的英語片名。這部片儘管在國際影展大放光彩，礙於斯里蘭卡嚴苛的電檢，卻無法在當地公開放映。《新郎的花季》是個三角戀愛的故事：一對男孩女孩青梅竹馬一起長大，無奈女有情，郎無意，然後一個外來的粗獷男進入了他們的世界，男孩和粗獷男發展了一份曖昧的情誼；但是迫於現實，女孩卻嫁給了粗獷男。這段糾結纏繞的三角戀愛，伴隨著他們從年輕一路成長……
Hena often worn on the head of the flower Plumeria (Frangipani), Comrade Sri Lanka is also the film "groom's Youth," the English title. Although this film shine at international film festivals, because of the harsh censorship in Sri Lanka, but not public screening on the ground. "Groom Youth" is a triangular love story: a childhood of boys and girls grow up together, but unfortunately women love, Lang unintentionally, then an outside rough men entered their world, boys and rough men develop a friendship ambiguous; But reality intruded, the girl was married to a rough man. This tangled love triangle, along with the way they grow from a young ......
《新郎的花季》的視覺和故事都充滿著一份「異國情調」，然而這份「異國情趣」真真實實地來自斯里蘭卡的同志經驗：他們面對著認同，家庭，性別，以及環境之下的宿命。故事中呈現的男同志身體，也帶著陰性之美。男主角面對自己時，總是以女裝現身；而當他對外以女裝身份出現時，卻帶著一種反抗／叛逆的意涵。斯里蘭卡的法律不容許同志戀，但是在一個飽受壓抑的社會中，最先突圍而出的，總是在身體上率先革命的變裝／跨性酷兒。
"The groom's Youth," the visual and stories are filled with an "exotic", but this comrade experience "exotic" truly, from Sri Lanka: They faced identity, under the family, gender, and the environment fate. The story presented in gay body, but also with the United States and negative. When the actor to face their own, always to women coming out; and when he was external to the emergence of women's status, but with a kind of revolt / rebellion meaning. Sri Lanka's law does not allow comrade love, but suffering in a repressive society, the first to stand out, always lead the revolution in the body dressing / transgender queer.
象徵著生命，希望與喜悅的雞蛋花，連結了兩個不同的空間，以及兩種在壓抑下奮鬥掙扎的同志文化。《跨性夏威夷》，《新郎的花季》這兩部酷兒電影，帶出了一份迷人勵志的雞蛋花世界。A symbol of life, hope and joy of frangipani, connecting two different spaces, as well as two comrades culture in the struggle struggling under oppressive. "Cross of Hawaii," "groom season of" Queer these two films brought out a fascinating inspirational frangipani world.
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"It's About Being Brave" - The Garden Island News
- Posted on 22nd Oct
- Category: news
Film Screening Highlights Transgender Issues, Hawaiian Culture
by Brittany Lyte - Oct. 21, 2015:
LIHUE — A year after the film depicting a year in her life debuted at the Hawaii International Film Festival, Hina Wong-Kalu is coming to Kauai.
Wong-Kalu, of Honolulu, is the face of “Kumu Hina,” the acclaimed documentary that tells the story of a Native Hawaiian mahu, or transgender, teacher who inspires a student to claim her place as leader of an all-male hula troupe.
It’s a powerful film told through the lens of an extraordinary Hawaiian who is both a proud and confident mahu and an honored and respected teacher, cultural practitioner and community leader.
“The film has a unique way, I think, of helping bring people together in communities,” said Joe Wilson, co-director of the film. “We have been going to places far and wide and to communities where many of the people who are depicted in the film live, but don’t have visibility and don’t have support they way these people do in urban centers. The film gives people a story and a way to engage and open up and talk about some of these issues.”
Wong-Kalu, as well as film directors Wilson and Dean Hamer, will attend a special screening of “Kumu Hina” at 7:15 p.m. Friday in Hanalei. The 77-minute screening will take place at the community and culture center Hale Halawai Ohana O Hanalei. It is free and open to the public.
“It’s about being brave,” said Kati Conant, Hale Halawai’s executive director. “Brave enough to be not only your true self, but brave enough to be your best self while respecting your culture and, in this case, the Hawaiian culture. There’s a lesson for all humans in this film.”
The screening is hosted by the YWCA of Kauai, Malama Pono Health Services and PFLAG Kauai.
“It’s an opportunity for the YWCA and Malama Pono to tell the community about our services,” said Matthew Houck, who is the YWCA’s LGBTQ services specialist. “All these agencies are in Lihue. We want people at the farther reaches of the island to know that there’s support for them.”
As a lead-in to the screening in Hanalei, the Hawaii State Public Library System will present, “A Place in the Middle,” an anti-bullying short film that piggybacks off the “Kumu Hina” story, at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Hanapepe Public Library.
This film, however, is geared toward the youth. It focuses on the story of the young Hawaiian girl who dreams of leading the boys-only hula troupe — the same girl Wong-Kalu mentors in “Kumu Hina.”
The showing is part of a series of free community screenings at eight selected public libraries statewide.
Following the screening, Wong-Kalu and the film’s co-directors will talk story with the audience.
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Penn Museum Film Series Explores Gender Boundaries with Hawaiian Stories
- Posted on 9th Oct
- Category: news
by Ray Simon - PGN - October 8, 2015:
“Gender Across Cultures” is the focus of the Penn Museum’s Second Sunday Culture Film Series, which begins Oct. 11. Two documentaries about Hawaii will be shown: “A Place in the Middle” and “Heart of the Sea.” The screening takes place at 2 p.m. in the Rainey Auditorium of the Penn Museum, located at 3260 South St. Museum admission applies ($15), giving attendees access to the museum’s exhibits.
The film series is cosponsored by the Penn Humanities Forum and the William Way LGBT Community Center, among others. The theme, “Gender Across Cultures,” compliments the PHF’s yearlong exploration of the topic “Sex.”
There will be six screenings between now and March. All of the films are relatively recent documentaries that examine how gender is shaped and understood in various cultures. At each screening, a knowledgeable speaker will provide context and answer questions from the audience.
For Kate Pourshariati, curator of the series, these screenings are an excellent opportunity to see films that are not widely distributed.
“I usually try to find films that are really pungent and interesting but that haven’t been seen much yet or are not easy to stream online,” she said.
“Heart of the Sea” is a 2002 documentary about Rell Sunn, an accomplished female surfer who succumbed to breast cancer in 1998. Sunn, Hawaii’s number-one female amateur surfer for five years, was also a passionate advocate of traditional Hawaiian culture and an environmental activist.
As a woman equally comfortable dancing the hula and spear-fishing, Sunn confounded stereotypes.
“This person is really stepping outside of what was the normal, expected thing coming up, even in the 1960s, to not just be the girl on the beach watching the guys surfing,” Pourshariati said. “She stepped right into it, and she was a very strong, powerful person.”
That afternoon’s other film, “A Place in the Middle,” will be of particular interest to PGN readers. The 2014 documentary by Dean Hamer and Joe Wilson follows 11-year-old Ho’onani, a young girl whose goal is to lead the all-boys hula performance at the end of the school year.
Ho’onani is encouraged by her teacher, Kumu Hina, a transgender woman. Kumu Hina’s life’s work has been to reintroduce native Hawaiians to their traditional culture, which includes the concept of being “in the middle.” People “in the middle” possess both masculine and feminine traits and were traditionally accorded respect.
In one scene, Kumu Hina explains to the teenage boys why a girl, or wahine, is being included in a performance representing masculine spirit, or ku.
“You have a biological wahine standing over here in front of you because she has more ku than everybody else around here, even though she lacks the main essential parts of ku,” Kumu Hina says. “But in her mind and in her heart, she has ku.”
The concept of being “in the middle” is just one manifestation of a worldwide phenomenon, according to William Wierzbowski, who works as a keeper in the Penn Museum’s American Section. Wierzbowski is an expert on Two-Spirit culture among Native North Americans and will be on hand that day.
When Europeans first encountered Native Americans, Wierzbowski explained, they were surprised to meet people we would now call gay. These people lived openly within their tribe and were accorded great respect. French trappers and explorers called them berdache, which was slightly pejorative. That perception gradually shifted as Native Americans began to reclaim their heritage.
“It was Native-American activists who happened to be gay that coined this term Two Spirit, which basically means that the individual embodies within — and I’m going to speak specifically about males here — that embodies within himself both the male and the female. So it’s actually quite a beautiful, almost poetic term,” Wierzbowski said.
Being Two Spirit or “in the middle,” he added, is not limited to any specific sexual behavior. Instead, it encompasses a wide range of attitudes, practices and roles. Within traditional cultures, for example, people like Kumu Hina and Ho’onani could be said to bridge the male and female aspects of the universe, actually helping to bind it together.
Those are big ideas, but it should be noted that the two documentaries being screened are neither pretentious nor didactic. On the contrary, they are colorful, eye-opening and fun to watch.
Pourshariati hopes that the film series will prompt attendees to be more receptive and respectful of other people and to consider new ideas. But she also wants them to enjoy themselves. Movies are an ideal medium to accomplish both goals.
After a screening, Pourshariati said, “Everyone has something in common: You’ve already seen the film together, so now you can talk about it. I find that really invigorating.”
For more information about the Penn Museum’s Second Sunday Culture Film Series, visit www.penn.museum/culturefilms.
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Imagine a world where a little boy can grow up to be the woman of his dreams, and a young girl can rise to become a leader among men. Kumu Hina tells the inspiring story of Hina Wong-Kalu, a transgender native Hawaiian teacher and cultural icon who brings to life Hawaii’s traditional embrace of māhū — those who embody both male and female spirit. The film traces Hina’s evolution from Collin Wong, a timid high school boy, to her present position as a married woman and cultural director of a school in one of Honolulu’s grittier neighborhoods. When Ho’onani, a charismatic 6th grade girl, asks to join the school’s all-male hula troupe, Hina gives her the opportunity to express her inner male spirit. As teacher and student prepare for a climactic end-of-year performance, they meet many obstacles, but hold fast to the idea that being true to oneself matters most. The film also delves into Hina’s pursuit of a dream of her own: a fulfilling romantic relationship. Her marriage to a headstrong Tongan man, and the challenges they encounter, offer a glimpse of a Hawaii rarely seen on film and a deeper understanding of the true meaning of aloha — love, honor, and respect for all. Get more details and check local listings here: http://worldchannel.org/programs/episode/independent-lens-kumu-hina/
Encore Broadcast of Kumu Hina on PBS World Channel, October 28, 2015
- Posted on 2nd Oct
- Category: news
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Hawaii State Public Library System Sponsors Kumu Hina's Bullying Prevention Campaign
- Posted on 18th Sep
- Category: news
Hawaiian Anti-Bullying Film to Screen at Libraries StatewideAn educational toolkit for safe and inclusive schools.HONOLULU, HI, Sept. 14, 2015 - The Hawaii State Public Library System will present "A Place in the Middle" - a short Hawaiian film at the heart of a new bullying prevention campaign centered on cultural empowerment and gender inclusion - in a series of screenings at eight selected public libraries statewide from Friday, Sept. 18 through Wednesday, Oct. 28. (See list below for screening locations, dates, and times.)Created by Kumu Hina Wong-Kalu, and directed by Emmy-winners Dean Hamer and Joe Wilson, "A Place in the Middle" tells the true story of a young girl who dreams of leading the boys' hula troupe at her Honolulu school, and an inspiring teacher who uses traditional Hawaiian culture to empower her. After each screening, the team will talk story with the audience about the film and educational campaign - supported by Pacific Islanders in Communications, Hawaii People's Fund, Ford Foundation, and PBS Learning Media.
"We encourage our patrons to learn more about Hawaii's rich cultural heritage through our libraries' resources and programs," said State Librarian Stacy Aldrich. "As community hubs, libraries serve as the perfect venues to host discussions that enable our patrons to connect, learn and celebrate Hawaii's indigenous and diverse cultures."This one-hour program is suitable for students, parents, and educators interested in Hawaiian culture and community-based efforts to make schools safe and inclusive for all. Free DVDs and teaching guides will be available for participants committed to using them in their work.
Sept. 18 (Friday) - 6:00pm: Thelma Parker Memorial Public & School Library (Kamuela, Hawaii Island)Sept. 29 (Tuesday) - 6:00pm: Kahuku Public & School Library (Oahu)Oct. 3 (Saturday) - 3:00pm: Kihei Public Library (Maui)Oct. 7 (Wednesday) - 6:30pm: Waianae Public Library (Oahu)Oct. 14 (Wednesday) - 6:30pm: Waimanalo Public & School Library (Oahu)Oct. 15 (Thursday) - 6:00pm: Hawaii State Library (Honolulu)Oct. 22 (Thursday) - 6:00pm: Hanapepe Public Library (Kauai)Oct. 28 (Wednesday) - 5:00pm: Molokai Public Library (Kaunakakai)For more information, contact Library Development Services Manager, Susan Nakata, at (808) 831-6878.
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Hawaiian Anti-Bullying Film to Show in Waimea
- Posted on 11th Sep
- Category: news
September 10, 2015:
One Big Island public library will be among seven in the state to present “A Place in the Middle,” a Hawai’i-made anti-bullying film.
The film was made to support a culturally-centered campaign for safe and inclusive schools and will be shown at free screenings across the state between Sept. 18 and Oct. 28.
Thelma Parker Memorial Public & School Library is the film’s first stop. The showing will take place on Sept. 18 at 6 p.m. before traveling to Oahu, Maui, and Kauai.
“We encourage our patrons to learn more about Hawai’i’s rich cultural heritage throughout libraries’ resources and programs,” said State Librarian Stacey Aldrich. “As community hubs, libraries serve as the perfect venues to host discussions that enable our patrons to connect, learn, and celebrate Hawai’i’s indigenous and diverse cultures.”
The one-hour program, created by Kumu Hina Wong-Kalu tells the story of a young Hawaiian girl who dreams of leading a boys-only hula troupe at her Honolulu school and an inspiring teacher who uses traditional culture to empower her. “A Place in the Middle” was directed by Dean Hamer and Joe Wilson.
Following the screening, a talk story session will take place with the audience about both the film and the educational campaign. Educational tools, including teaching guides and free DVDs, will be available following the program.
Those who need a sign language interpreter or another special accommodation should contact Thelma Parker Memorial Public & School Library by calling 887-6067 as soon as possible.
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"Countering Bullying, with Aloha" - The Huffington Post
- Posted on 19th Aug
- Category: news
It's back-to-school time in Hawaiʻi. Over 200,000 students will enter grades K-12 this year, full of curiosity and ideas. Unfortunately, many of them will have their studies disrupted and hopes crushed by bullying.
Despite our reputation as the "Aloha State," surveys show that one-fifth to over one-half of students in both public and private schools have been bullied or harassed. And even though more than 90 percent of voters say that "bullying is important for the state of Hawai'i to address," attempts to pass a statewide Safe Schools Act have failed repeatedly in the legislature. Some parents, such as a father whose two young children were bullied for years without intervention in East Hawaiʻi schools, have even resorted to suing the Department of Education.
We're fortunate that several local groups have stepped in to develop their own anti-bullying programs; the E Ola Pono, Adult Friends for Youth Anti-Bullying and Violence Convention, and Mental Health America of Hawaii Pono Youth Program are outstanding examples. Even local comedian Augie T is helping out through B.R.A.V.E. Hawaiʻi, a program started by his daughter after she herself fell victim to bullying.
But bullying doesn't occur in a vacuum; it's the product of underlying stigma and prejudice. That's why it's time to move beyond telling children that it's bad to be mean, and start showing them why it's good to be inclusive and accepting - not just for the targets of bullying, but for everyone in the school and community.
We had the opportunity to witness first-hand the effectiveness of this approach during our two years of filming Kumu Hina, a nationally broadcast PBS feature documentary about a Native Hawaiian teacher who empowers her students at a small public charter school in downtown Honolulu by showing them the true meaning of aloha: love, honor and respect for all. It's a powerful lesson for children and adults alike.
In order to make Kumu Hina's teaching available to students and teachers in K-12 schools across the islands, we've produced a youth-friendly, short version of the film called A Place in the Middle that focuses on the story of one of her students, a sixth grade girl who dreams of joining the boys-only hula troupe. This might make her a target for ridicule and bullying in many schools, but the outcome of this story is very different. It's a powerful example of why students who are perceived to be different, in one way or another, deserve to be celebrated precisely because of those differences, not simply tolerated despite them.
Overcoming bullying in Hawai'i requires a systemic, long-term, multifaceted approach. The true story of a local girl who just wants to be herself - and in so doing helps her fellow students and entire school - is a good place to start.
A Place in the Middle is available at no cost for streaming and download from PBS Learning Media and on Vimeo, and the accompanying Hawai'i Teacher's Guide can be downloaded from the Hawai'i Educators Website. The program will be touring Public Libraries across the islands beginning this fall.
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"What Native Hawaiian Culture Can Teach Us About Gender Identity" - Yes! Magazine
- Posted on 29th Jul
- Category: news
by Jade Snow for Yes! Magazine - July 28, 2015:
In traditional Hawaiian culture, creative expression of gender and sexuality was celebrated as an authentic part of the human experience. Throughout Hawaiian history, “mahu” appear as individuals who identify their gender between male and female. Hawaiian songs often contain deeper meanings—called kaona—that refer to love and relationships that don’t conform to contemporary Western definitions of male and female gender roles.
Expressions of sexuality and gender by mahu individuals were often reflected in Hawaiian arts, particularly in traditional hula and music, which continue today. The 2014 documentary Kumu Hina follows the journey of Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu (“Hina”), a teacher—or kumu—at a Hawaiian charter school in Honolulu, who is mahu. Kumu Hina explores the role of mahu in Hawaiian society through the lens of a Native Hawaiian who is deeply rooted in the traditions of her ancestors and committed to living an authentic life.
As a 21st century mahu, Hina’s experience is not unlike many others who defy Western gender classifications. Born Collin Kwai Kong Wong, she struggled to find acceptance throughout her youth. Today, Hina presents herself as a female in her dress and appearance, though she embraces both masculine and feminine aspects of her identity equally. And while the film focuses on her journey to become Hina, it characterizes her by more than her gender identity. The film presents a portrait of Hina as a devout cultural practitioner and educator whose most fundamental identity lies in being Hawaiian.
As a kumu at the charter school Halau Lokahi, Hina instills time-honored traditions and cultural values in her students. One student in particular, middle schooler Ho‘onani, traverses the ever-treacherous waters of youth with the additional strain of identifying as being “in the middle.” Hina relates to Ho‘onani’s journey and challenges the students to create a safe and accepting environment. This proves transformative for Ho‘onani, as her determination to define herself and prove her capability garners her the lead role in the school’s all-male ensemble, which the boys do not dispute. Due to the example Hina sets, her classrooms embrace a new “normal” that openly acknowledges all identities. The result is a confident, empathetic community of young people who validate the complexities of Ho‘onani’s reality and provide her with a compassionate place to grow up.
“It’s all a natural thing,” Ho’onani explains. “Kumu’s in the middle too. Everybody knows that, and it’s not a secret to anybody. What ‘middle’ means is a rare person.” Under Hina’s mentorship, Ho‘onani flourishes, excelling in all areas of study, including music and hula, and earning the respect of her peers. As she prepares for a school event, Hina instructs that shell leis be worn by students based on color: white for the girls and yellow for the boys. Without hesitation, Ho‘onani suggests she wear both, and Hina agrees. “See, you get both—because she’s both,” she explains. This is Hawaiian mahu, unique in its perspective that an individual who has embraced both sides of their gender identity does not require exclusive definition. Those who identify with being mahu may exude more masculine or feminine qualities, but their inner experience is one that ebbs between the two with the grace and subtlety of the ocean tide.
When I interviewed Hina for MANA magazine’s 2014 feature “Beyond the Binary,” she explained: “A mahu is an individual that straddles somewhere in the middle of the male and female binary. It does not define their sexual preference or gender expression because gender roles, gender expressions, and sexual relationships have all been severely influenced by the changing times. It is dynamic. It is like life.” The “changing times” Hina refers to began with the arrival of Christian missionaries in the 1800s and the imposition of Western values on the Hawaiian community. They banned cultural expressions that celebrated diverse sexual views and traditions they believed to be profane, such as hula, and drove them underground. The suppression of traditional Hawaiian values and practices marked a turning point in Hawai‘i’s history, one in which mahu began a struggle to find acceptance.
One of the greatest journeys of the human experience is the struggle to accept oneself and live authentically. Kumu Hina lifts the veil on the misunderstood and marginalized experience of “other” gendered individuals whose identity cannot be defined by the broad strokes of contemporary Western categorization. For many Native Hawaiians, authenticity is at the heart of the human experience. Living authentically is one of the highest honors individuals can bestow upon themselves, their families, and their communities. By embracing her identity, Hina not only fulfills her own personal journey to find love and happiness, but she is able to positively influence the lives of students like Ho‘onani who are grappling with their own identities.
To continue promoting Kumu Hina’s message of acceptance, a 24-minute version of the film and teaching guide were created as an educational resource. This short film, called A Place in the Middle, premiered in February 2015 in Germany and played at Toronto’s TIFF Kids International Film Festival in April. According to co-producer Joe Wilson, the film “has struck a chord with educators and other professionals in need of resources on gender diversity and cultural empowerment.” The film demonstrates healthy ways to address gender identity in the classroom and promotes a safe academic environment for youth to thrive.
Thanks to the determination of Hina and others, the Hawai‘i Marriage Equality Act of 2013 was passed in November 2013. And though further efforts are needed to reach equality, Hina finds validation in her home. “I’m fortunate to live in a place that allows me to love who I love,” she says. “I can be whoever I want to be. That’s what I hope most to leave with my students—a genuine understanding of unconditional acceptance and respect. To me, that’s the true meaning of aloha.”
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Educational Video "A Place In The Middle" Distributed with Subtitles in China
- Posted on 22nd Jul
- Category: news
In a new partnership between the Kumu Hina Project and Queer Comrades, the educational video "A Place In The Middle" is now available online to viewers in China, with Chinese subtitles!
Queer Comrades is a project operating under the Beijing Gender Health Education Institute and receives support from the Ford Foundation and the Worldwide Fund Human Rights, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity.
The mission of Queer Comrades is to document queer culture in all its aspects in order to raise public awareness on LGBT matters. As queer issues are at the forefront of social debate in China’s present-day society, we believe that the need for information about LGBT and sexual health issues will continue to grow during the coming years.
We aim to inform both the LGBT and the non-LGBT members of Chinese society in a relaxed and unrestrained way on the various aspects of queer culture, by sending out empowering images of queer life .
Our main medium is a 3-monthly online show which discusses the dynamic characteristics of China’s burgeoning queer culture and the newest developments in the global gay movement. Another important medium consists of online video news items which cover important Chinese and foreign queer information and events.
Our mission is to document queer culture in all its aspects in order to raise public awareness on LGBT matters. As queer issues are at the forefront of social debate in China’s present-day society, we believe that the need for information about LGBT and sexual health issues will continue to grow during the coming years.
We aim to inform both the LGBT and the non-LGBT members of Chinese society in a relaxed and unrestrained way on the various aspects of queer culture, by sending out empowering images of queer life .
Our main medium is a 3-monthly online show which discusses the dynamic characteristics of China’s burgeoning queer culture and the newest developments in the global gay movement. Another important medium consists of online video news items which cover important Chinese and foreign queer information and events.
- See more at: http://www.queercomrades.com/en/about/#sthash.NTpHT98Z.dpufOur mission is to document queer culture in all its aspects in order to raise public awareness on LGBT matters. As queer issues are at the forefront of social debate in China’s present-day society, we believe that the need for information about LGBT and sexual health issues will continue to grow during the coming years.
We aim to inform both the LGBT and the non-LGBT members of Chinese society in a relaxed and unrestrained way on the various aspects of queer culture, by sending out empowering images of queer life .
Our main medium is a 3-monthly online show which discusses the dynamic characteristics of China’s burgeoning queer culture and the newest developments in the global gay movement. Another important medium consists of online video news items which cover important Chinese and foreign queer information and events.
- See more at: http://www.queercomrades.com/en/about/#sthash.NTpHT98Z.dpufOur mission is to document queer culture in all its aspects in order to raise public awareness on LGBT matters. As queer issues are at the forefront of social debate in China’s present-day society, we believe that the need for information about LGBT and sexual health issues will continue to grow during the coming years.
We aim to inform both the LGBT and the non-LGBT members of Chinese society in a relaxed and unrestrained way on the various aspects of queer culture, by sending out empowering images of queer life .
Our main medium is a 3-monthly online show which discusses the dynamic characteristics of China’s burgeoning queer culture and the newest developments in the global gay movement. Another important medium consists of online video news items which cover important Chinese and foreign queer information and events.
- See more at: http://www.queercomrades.com/en/about/#sthash.NTpHT98Z.dpufOur mission is to document queer culture in all its aspects in order to raise public awareness on LGBT matters. As queer issues are at the forefront of social debate in China’s present-day society, we believe that the need for information about LGBT and sexual health issues will continue to grow during the coming years.
We aim to inform both the LGBT and the non-LGBT members of Chinese society in a relaxed and unrestrained way on the various aspects of queer culture, by sending out empowering images of queer life .
Our main medium is a 3-monthly online show which discusses the dynamic characteristics of China’s burgeoning queer culture and the newest developments in the global gay movement. Another important medium consists of online video news items which cover important Chinese and foreign queer information and events.
- See more at: http://www.queercomrades.com/en/about/#sthash.NTpHT98Z.dpuf -
A Place In The Middle: An Educational Toolkit for Cultural Empowerment & Gender Diversity
- Posted on 14th Jul
- Category: news
A PLACE IN THE MIDDLE tells the true story of an eleven year-old Hawaiian girl who dreams of leading her school's all-male hula troupe. The only trouble is that the group is just for boys. She's fortunate to have a teacher who understands what it means to be "in the middle" - the Hawaiian tradition of embracing both male and female spirit. Together they set out to prove that what matters most is what's in your heart and mind.
This youth-focused educational film is a great way to get K-12 students thinking and talking about the values of diversity and inclusion, the power of knowing your heritage, and how to create a school climate of aloha, from their own point of view!
The film is accompanied by a Classroom Discussion Guide that includes background information about Hawaiian culture and history, discussion questions, and lesson plans aligned with the Common Core State Educational Standards and additional educational benchmarks.
The complete film, Discussion Guide, and other resources, including a displayable "Pledge of Aloha," are available for free at APlaceintheMiddle.org. They are also available on the trusted educator's website PBS LearningMedia, and in hard copy upon request.
From the Berlin and Toronto International Film Festivals to classrooms across the United States, A PLACE IN THE MIDDLE is proving to be a powerful tool to talk about the intersections between gender, identity and culture, and the positive outcomes that occur when schools welcome students with love, honor and respect.
View the short film trailer HERE.
What people are saying about A PLACE IN THE MIDDLE
"An inspiring coming-of-age story on the power of culture to shape identity, personal agency, and community cohesion, from a young person's point of view.”
-Cara Mertes, Ford Foundation
"A valuable teaching tool for students in elementary, middle and high schools, as well as for parents and teachers."
-Carol Crouch, Eleʻele Elementary School, Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi
"An amazing tool to help educators understand the need for acceptance for each and every child regardless of gender expression."
-Tracy Flynn, Welcoming Schools
"One of the most positive films about the trans experience I've ever seen."
-Jennifer Finney Boylan, author and writer-in-residence at Barnard College
"Uniquely accessible for youth."
"A true-life 'Whale Rider' story."
-The Huffington Post
