Hui Moʻolelo: Lei Pua ʻAla
A Collaboration of Maui Public Art Corps, Hale Hōʻikeʻike at the Bailey House Maui Historical Society, County of Maui, and Lei Pua ʻAla Queer Histories of Hawaiʻi
A new collaborative program of Maui Public Art Corps, Hale Hōʻikeʻike at the Bailey House/ Maui Historical Society, the County of Maui and the Lei Pua ʻAla Queer Histories of Hawaiʻi project of the Hawaiʻi Council for the Humanities and Qwaves/Kanaka Pakipika, Hui Moʻolelo: Lei Pua ʻAla cultivates stories that celebrate Hawaiʻi history, culture and sense of place and create positive shifts in public attitudes toward queer rights and inclusion.
The collaboration emerged out of a conversation that Lei Pua ʻAla directors initiated with Maui Public Arts Corps leaders to learn more about the inspiring work they have been doing since 2020 “to connect people, place, and story through the development of exceptional public art.”
In talking story with the Lei Pua ʻAla Queer Histories of Hawaii Project the Maui Public Art Corps said, “we learned that this approach may be useful in uplifting queer stories and history and in fostering acceptance of queer identities in everyday life. With the additional collaboration of Hawai'i Council for the Humanities – who works to broaden perspectives and strengthen communities, there are myriad possibilities to position public art as a catalyst for community engagement.”
The content below is companion to the main portal for this program on the Maui Public Art Corps web site.
Through Hui Mo‘olelo (“gathering of stories”), an annual cohort of storytellers is trained through a series of free, community workshops. Upon completion, participants are paired with an intergenerational partner to generate a site-specific story that is audio-recorded. The audio excerpts become the basis for annual requests for artist proposals by professional artists, in which they interpret a recording as a work of public art in collaboration with community members. Proposals are selected by a community panel, followed by an intensive learning and cultural exchange that is rooted in specific places.
Through this Hui Mo‘olelo cohort, Maui and Oʻahu storytellers will participate in 3 virtual sessions led by Maui Public Art Corps and Hale Hōʻikeʻike at the Bailey House/ Maui Historical Society. Upon completion, participants will pair with intergenerational partners to generate a site-specific story that is audio-recorded. The audio excerpts become the basis for an RFP by literary artists, in which they interpret a recording as a work of public art in collaboration with community members. Proposals are selected by a community panel, followed by a collective learning and cultural exchange that is rooted in specific places throughout Maui County and Oʻahu.
Timeline
Nov & Dec '24: Recruit Hui Mo‘olelo participants and identify sites and partners for public art experiences
Jan '25: Hui Mo‘olelo workshops 1-3 with Sissy Lake-Farm
Feb '25: Intergenerational recordings
Mar '25: RFP or invitational to interpret a Hui Mo‘olelo recording as a work of written/ performance art
Apr '25: Panel/ proposal review > artist contracts > launch project development
May '25: Community engagement/ project development
Jun '25: Pop-up performances/ activations scheduled
Dolly M.I. Tatofi, MSW, LCSW, is divinely guided by essence and the unseen in each moment and is driven by kuleana. Born and raised on the island of Oʻahu, she has come to know what pilina is and has been blessed to work with keiki to kūpuna in various capacities throughout her life as a Social Worker. Her acquired ʻike consists of a B.A. in Ethnic Studies and a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, and she continues her learning at Chaminade University. Dolly is a founding member and the Interim Executive Director of Pouhana O Nā Wāhine. She serves as the IVAT Sub-Committee Cultural Chair, enjoys sharing her love of oli with others, and creates space for people to remember the sacred beings that they are. Through her years of experience, she has found the importance of Aloha as the underlying factor in her hana. Although understanding who you are is a life journey, she knows that her kuleana is to connect and support people with creating, building, and restoring pilina through Aloha. She believes that through purposeful and intentional daily living grounded in Aloha this will create, maintain, and enhance the relationships we have in any space and at any time not only with others but also with self; if we know who we are deep inside, then we will see this reflected outside of us and come to know what lōkahi truly means and feels like in completeness. Be, Do, and Know Aloha. Camille Rockett is the child of Pearl and Louis Rockett and was born and raised in Waiehu,Maui. A proud graduate of Baldwin High School, Camille received their BA in urban studies from Stanford University in 2006 and their master's in social work from UH Manoa in 2010. They currently serve as the Director of Community Health and Equity at HMSA where they develop infrastructure to support health justice. Camille will be graduating from the Mitchell Hamline School of Law in June 2025 with a strengthened kuleana for pursuing social justice with ALOHA. Camille resides in Kapolei with their spouse, two keiki, two cats, and foster dog.
Nilo Nono talking story with Daniel Southmayd, a medical case manager working with Maui AIDS Foundation. Daniel is currently Secretary for the Board of Directors at ProArts on Maui and, with his partner of 35 years, is a fierce advocate for the LGBT+ and local community.
Lance Collins interviewed by Angelica Daoang
Sean-Joseph Takeo Kahāokalani Choo is a queer, multi-ethnic, multi-hyphenate artist: actor, composer, playwright, and new work developer. He’s the Lead Steward + Head Jester + Primary Arts Advocate of Kamamo House, a Honolulu-based queer theatre, and new work & artist cultivation/advocacy organization and podcast named after Sean’s fierce, hapa grandmother, Eloise Tsuru Kamamo Matsuno Choo. Sean’s work has been recognized on a local and regional level, by the Bay Area Playwrights Festival Finalist, the Pork Filled Productions 2025 Unleashed Festival, the Neukom Institute Literary Arts Awards, and the National Playwrights Conference at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center. Sean’s play the isle is full of noises was developed in The Playwrights Realm’s inaugural Native American Artist Lab, where he was mentored by the amazing Rhiana Yazzie and Victoria Nalani Kneubuhl. William Haʻo is a theater veteran for over 40 years. His professional theater journey began in New York City. He has performed in almost every state in the Union, Canada and Greece. Since returning to Hawaii he has participated in various theatrical endeavors receiving 9 Pookela Awards for Directing and Performance.
Born and raised in Hawaiʻi, Lyz Soto is a performance poet of Visayan, Ilocano, Hakka, German, English, and French descent. She lives in Koʻolaupoko on the island of Oʻahu. She’s taught spoken word across the Pacific. She’s the co-editor of the speculative anthology, Snaring New Suns, Bamboo Ridge Press (2022) Her latest work appears in An Ocean of Wonder: The Fantastic in the Pacific, University of Hawaiʻi Press (2024). Through her art, she tries to explore the ways art can remake our perspectives and imaginations. She is the director of conversation and literary programs with the Hawaiʻi Council for the Humanities. Allen Kam hails from Waiʻalae. He is the Kumu Hula of Ka Pa Hula o Kaʻohukuileahua. He lives in the ahupuaʻa of Maunalua with his partner, son, and dog overlord.
Nicolita "Nicki" Garces is a queer Filipinx from Kalihi whose parents hail from the Ilocos region of the Philippines. Her mother, a hotel housekeeper and Local 5 union member, influenced her to be involved in social justice. Her close group of friends - her chosen family, many of which are activists and organizers - helped Nicki bloom into and live her authentic self. Nicki is an information management professional for a philanthropic foundation and runs her side business, Nanang Michaela Wisdom Blends, where she sells Filipinx plant medicine products and teaches workshops in the community. She is also a Reiki master, Hilot (traditional Filipinx healing) practitioner and caregiver to her mother. Ashley Ancheta Galacgac is a queer transnational feminist inspired by Ilokanx women who raised her and places of Hawai‘i where she grew up. In her work at HANO, she supports community-based organizations & nonprofits to improve the quality of life here in Hawai‘i. Ashley’s Ethnic Studies background ignites her passion to uplift movement histories rooted in love and resistance, particularly amplifying voices of women and gender expansive relatives. Her political home is AF3IRM, a women of color-led anti-imperialist organization calling for Indigenous and body sovereignty across Hawai‘i, Philippines, Palestine, and beyond. Ashley believes the restoration of relationships to land, our own bodies, and one another is possible through intergenerational knowledge and collective care, making way for justice, healing, and liberation.
Frank Lee interviewed by Kenji Cataldo, Co-Host & Producer of Hawai’i Rising, a podcast produced by Hawai’i People’s Fund
Cynthia Cary, LCSW, recently retired from private practice, and is a former instructor at UH Maui College teaching sociology, counseling and social work courses. Lee Stein, MSW and CSAC, retired from UH Maui College in 2018, where she served as Human Services Program Coordinator and a professor in human services and social work classes. Cynthia and Lee have been together for 30 years and married for 15 years.
Maui Performing Artist & Teaching Artist Francis Tauʻa was raised on Maui and has been part of the local theatre Ohana for over 40 years. He has been a teacher and director of primarily children’s theatre arts and has worked with ages from 4-17 as well as directing Adult productions for various theatre organizations on the island. He is the nephew of Kumu Keli’i Tau’a and is currently working on a degree in Hawaiian Studies through the University of Hawai’i Maui Campus. Hōkū Pavao, Maui Arts Administrator, Artist & Co-Founder of Archive for Health Arts and Spirit, is a Kanaka Maoli Maui-born and raised performing artist and arts administrator dedicated to using theatre as a powerful tool for community storytelling and social change. Her current work focuses on crafting narratives that celebrate Maui’s rich and diverse cultural heritage and amplify underrepresented voices, ensuring the arts remain accessible and reflective of her community.
Val Tavai, Senior Community Services Manager at Honolulu Community Action Program, grew up in Makakilo in a Samoan-Filipino family, with ties to Maui and Lanaʻi. While attending college on the continent, they became involved in LGBTQ activism. When they returned home, they were active in the early organizing for same-sex marriage in Hawaiʻi. They are the current senior community services manager at the Honolulu Community Action Program in Waiʻanae. Lani Teves, associate professor of women, gender, and sexuality studies at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Troy Siruno, Hawaii Leadership Forum interviewed by Pualani Enos, UH Mānoa Matsunaga Institute for Peace
Format
Complete the 3-part Hui Mo‘olelo workshop series, through which participants create their own micro-storytelling presentation that is rooted in a distinctive sense of place, history and culture.
Coordinate the best date & time to meet an intergenerational partner to talk story at Hale Hōʻikeʻike at the Bailey House/ Maui Historical Society in Wailuku or at (Oahu site TBD. Zoom conversations may be an alternative).
Each of you may select 4-5 of the "Sample Questions & Prompts" below, or create your own prior to your scheduled recording. Feel free to go “off-script” and ask follow-up questions. You can tell jokes, stories, share photos, objects, memories or choose another way to help you get there.
Once settled into the recording space, the technician will signal to you that time has started. You'll have 40-minutes to talk story from this point. Start by stating your name, age, the date, and the place where you are - and let your match do the same. Then begin.
When pau, ask the technician to take a photo of the 2 of you together and send it to us. That's it!
SAMPLE QUESTIONS + PROMPTS from Lei Pua ʻAla
Where did you grow up (ages 0-18)? List multiple locations if applicable.
What is one thing that makes you feel at home?
Tell me about a wahi pana (special place)
When did you come out? What was the reaction like? How do you define coming out?
What has made you feel safe?
If anything, what scares you?
What makes you feel empowered?
Tell me your life story in as much detail as possible in four minutes
Tell me about a person or experience that made an impact on the direction of your life.
Tell me about a person that is most important to you. What makes them special?
Did you have any mentors or role models (can be celebrities) that could help with the coming out experience?
What was your first visit to a gay-related place or event like? What did you expect to find? Did the reality fit your expectations, or was it completely different?
Did being part of the LGBTQ+ community bring you in contact with people of different cultural backgrounds? How did that affect your circumstances and/or outlook?
What kinds of māhū/queer stories are missing from our public memory?
Have you ever been a part of LGBTQ activism? Why/why not?
How did political thinking/climate or community thinking affect your involvement in or support of gay rights?
How do you express your love (and also be not-romantic)?
What is something you are proud of that you have done in your life?
Who is a (queer) person you’ve admired because of their role in your community?
What was a miracle moment in your life? Where were you? Who was with you (who doesnʻt have to be human)?
What is a story that helps you breathe better?
What does a loving life look like to you?
How are things different from when you were growing up?
Tell me about a community place that was important to you, but has changed or isnʻt physically accessible anymore.
What was a time that you look back on really influencing the queer community of today?
What stories have made you feel like better futures are possible?
How do you make yourself laugh or what is a story or memory that brings you laughter/joy?
What would you hope for younger people who are becoming adults?
ADDITIONAL SAMPLE QUESTIONS + PROMPTS
Can you share a bit about where you grew up and what your community was like?
What are some defining moments in your life that have shaped who you are today?
How do you describe your identity, and what does it mean to you?
Can you describe a moment of celebration related to your identity?
Can you share when and how you first understood your sexual orientation or gender identity?
How has your identity influenced your relationships with family, friends, or your community?
Are there any places or landmarks in Hawaii that hold special significance to the queer community or its history? (Discuss as many as you can identify)
Are there specific historical moments in Hawaii that you feel have shaped the queer community here? Where were they and what is your understanding of what happened?
Can you share memories or stories about key LGBTQ+ advocacy groups or leaders in Hawaii?
How has Hawaii’s cultural or spiritual history, including concepts like mahu (third-gender or nonbinary individuals), influenced your understanding of queer identity?
Can you describe how the visibility of queer people has changed in Hawaii over time, from your perspective?
What role have indigenous Hawaiian values, such as aloha and ohana, played in shaping the acceptance of queer individuals? or - How has Hawaii’s unique cultural identity influenced the way queer rights and inclusion have developed here?
Are there traditional Hawaiian or other cultural practices or stories that have helped you feel connected to or understood in your identity?
Were you or someone you know involved in the push for civil unions or marriage equality in Hawaii? What was that experience like?
How do you think the HIV/AIDS crisis impacted the queer community in Hawaii, and what do you remember about the response to it?
Are there specific events or gatherings in Hawaii, like Pride celebrations or cultural festivals, that have been particularly significant to you?
How have you seen queer-friendly spaces, like bars, clubs, or community centers, evolve in Hawaii over the years?
Can you recall moments when queer stories or voices were represented in local Hawaiian art, music, or media?
Can you share how generational attitudes in Hawaii toward queerness have shifted, whether within your family or in broader society?
What lessons from Hawaii’s queer history do you think are most important to pass on to younger generations?
What do you hope historians will highlight about queer life in Hawaii when they reflect on the current era?
If you could preserve one story about Hawaii’s queer history for future generations, what would it be?
Can you describe a time when you felt particularly supported as a queer individual (or ally)?
Have you faced any challenges or discrimination related to queer identity? If so, how did you navigate them?
What role, if any, has your workplace or school played in shaping your experiences as a queer person or ally?
Can you share an instance where someone’s empathy or understanding changed your experience?
How have societal attitudes toward queer people changed during your lifetime?
What does community mean to you, and how have you found or built community?
Have you ever participated in events or organizations supporting queer rights? What was that like?
How do you approach conversations about queer rights with people who might not agree with you?
Are there particular allies or role models who have inspired you?
How would you like to see your community grow or change in terms of inclusion and support for queer people?
What brings you joy or pride about being part of the queer community (or supporting it)?
What role does art, culture, or storytelling play in expressing or validating your identity?
Who or what makes you feel most seen and valued as a queer individual (or ally)?
What traditions or practices have you created or embraced that reflect your authentic self?
What changes would you like to see in public attitudes toward queer rights in the next decade?
If you could share one piece of advice or wisdom with the next generation of queer individuals, what would it be?
How can allies and community members better support queer people in meaningful ways?
What gives you hope for the future of queer inclusion and rights?
What message do you wish everyone could hear and understand about the queer experience?
Project Timeline
8/29/24: Kelly's introductory meeting with Joe Wilson & Dean Hamer, directors at Kanaka Pakipika / Qwaves / Kapaemahu Project
9/5/24: Meeting #2 joined by Aiko Yamashiro, E.D. of Hawai'i Council for the Humanities and partner in leadership of the Lei Pua 'Ala Queer Histories of Hawai'i project.
9/23/24: Kelly develops 3 proposal options: Short-term option = large-scale exhibition of Queer focused artwork; Mid-term option = mural RFQ; Long-term option = Hui Mo‘olelo & Open Call for Public Art
9/26/24: Meeting #3 joined by poet Lyz Soto & MPAC logistics maven Hoku Pavao
10/4/24: Aiko opts for Hui Mo‘olelo option with a poetry activation and response event/s and commits funds to MPAC
11/22/24: Meeting #4: Joined by Sissy Lake-Farm to meet the team & offer 3 dates for virtual Hui Mo‘olelo sessions, with the potential for a 4th in-person event at Hale Hōʻikeʻike at the Bailey House/ Maui Historical Society. Also joined today by Nohelani Teves, associate professor of women, gender, and sexuality studies at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
12/9/24: Kelly shares a revised MOU with Aiko to signal official partnership launch (executed Jan 7, 2025)
12/20/24: Kelly, Hoku & Sissy meet to review Maui cohort nominees (Sample invitation HERE)
1/9/24: Meeting #5: Kelly and Sissy meet with Joe Wilson to set the tone for next week's project launch
1/14/25: Meeting #6: Aiko, Lani, Lyz and Kelly meet to finalize agenda, cohort participants, story prompts and discuss potential needs for upcoming recordings.
1/16/25: Hui Mo‘olelo workshop #1 | (11 am - 1 pm) [A. Introductions. B. Hui Mo‘olelo program background/ about us. C. Lei Pua ʻAla Queer Histories of Hawaiʻi background/ about us. D. story prompt. E. time allowing = where these stories have landed, pau.]
1/23/25: Hui Mo‘olelo workshop #2 | (11 am - 1 pm) [A. what is story & its meaning in the modern context. B. story prompt. C. which tools and skillsets are required to share stories? D. share self-recorded video story assignment (may require prompt)]
1/30/25: Hui Mo‘olelo workshop #3 | (11 am - 1 pm) [A. how it felt to record a story. B. who will you be inviting to talk-story? C. story prompt. D. final thoughts before closing Hui Mo‘olelo]
2/24/25: Deadline to complete Hui Mo‘olelo recordings (Maui = the Bailey House Museum. Oahu = TBD)
2/28/25: Deadline to edit a collection of 2-3 minute Hui Mo‘olelo excerpts for the RFP
3/1/25: Target date to release RFP (closes 3/31) Note: RFP will have multiple categories (see our most recent RFP "Project Descriptions" as an example) that include other MPAC project partnerships.
Transcribe excerpts
Panel review
The content above is companion to the main portal for this program on the Maui Public Art Corps web site.
Banner Image Credit: View from Kakaʻako Waterfront Park Overlook, Lei Pua ʻAla Queer Histories of Hawaiʻi