Reshaping the commemorative landscape of Hawaiʻi’s diverse LGBTQ+ Māhū communities
Lei Pua ʻAla
is a multidimensional project to document and memorialize gender and sexual diversity across the uniquely multicultural landscape of Hawaiʻi.
end the harms of centuries of marginalization and erasure and empower queer communities through education and engagement programs, immersive digital experiences, exhibitions, performances, public art installations, historical markers, and monuments that serve as visible reminders of our shared humanity and the values that bind us together.
(Photo from the collection of DeSoto Brown)
Our aim is to
Grounded in Kanaka philosophy and the cultures and worldviews of others who have come to call Hawaiʻi home, the project will offer broader understandings and deeper perspectives on identities, love, relationships, family, and inclusion. Our title “Lei Pua ʻAla” (garland of fragrant flowers) reflects a Hawaiian perspective on the beauty and diversity of our rainbow communities.
(Photo by Bruce Asato, Honolulu Star-Advertiser)
Hawai’i is the Piko
Sample Stories
From the Kanaka embrace of same-sex intimacy and gender duality to the experiences of queer Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, Korean, Portuguese, Puerto Rican, Pacific Islander, and other immigrants; from missionary suppression of gender and sexual nonconformity to māhū entertainers who blazed the trail toward respect through brave acts of visibility; from gay physicians who fought HIV/AIDS with evidence-based public health campaigns to advocates and jurists who rocked the world by demanding marriage equality in a world that had yet to imagine it – these are just a sampling of the stories that will be gathered, restored, and shared through hula, song, dance, and written and spoken word, immersive digital experiences and exhibitions, educational resources, and public art installations, and monuments.
(Photo courtesy of Alexander & Baldwin)
A multicultural history
Queer Histories of Hawaiʻi Trail Map
Explore some of the key sites in Hawaiiʻs queer history. From an ancient monument honoring gender-fluid healers to the birthplace of the same-sex marriage movement, these are landmarks of the ongoing voyages of our diverse LGBTQ+ Māhū communities.
There are currently eight sites on the map, with more to come soon. The tour is available on Bloomberg Connects, an arts and culture app you can download to your smart phone from the Apple App Store or Google Play
What visible signs of queer histories and unsung heroes do you see in your community?
Community Participation - Share Your Stories
Community participation is invited to help bring forward stories of the people, places, and events that have shaped the history of Hawaii’s LGBTQ+ Māhū communities and to create new ways to honor, uplift, and activate their collective power for the benefit of current and future generations.
You can join us by sharing your stories and ideas about the people, places, and events that have shaped Hawaii’s queer past. Send us a note through the form and we’ll be in touch to discuss the best way to include and share your story.
Contact: QueerHistoriesofHawaii@mail.com