Reshaping the commemorative landscape of Hawaiiʻs diverse māhū-LGBTQ+ communities
Queer Histories of Hawaiʻi
is a multidimensional effort to document and memorialize gender and sexual diversity in a uniquely multicultural society society.
end the harms 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.
The project aims to
Grounded in Kanaka philosophy and the cultures and worldviews of others who have come to call Hawai’i home, the project will offer broader understandings and deeper perspectives on identities, love, relationships, family, and inclusion. The noʻeau “Luaʻehu Nā PuaʻAla O Ka ʻAina,” or a myriad of colorful and fragrant flowers of the land, reflects the centering of the project in Hawaiian traditions and the beauty and diversity of our rainbow communities.
Hawai’i is the Piko
From the Kanaka embrace of same-sex intimacy and gender duality to the experiences of queer Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, and other immigrants; from missionary suppression of nonconformity to māhū entertainers who blazed the trail toward respect through brave acts of visibility; from gay physicians who fought HIV/AIDS with evidence to advocates and jurists who rocked the world by demanding marriage equality – 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 and monuments.
A richly multicultural history
Sample Stories
What visible signs of queer people, places, and events do you see in your community?
Community Participation - Share Your Story
Community participation is invited to help bring forward stories of the people, places, and events that have shaped the history of Hawaii’s Māhū, Noho Aikāne, and LGBTQ+ 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 story and ideas about the people, places, and events that have shaped our islands queer past. Send us a note through the form and we’ll be in touch to discuss the best way to share your story.