UH West O'ahu to host Pacific Islander culture, transgender identity events

Free film screening of "Kumu Hina" Feb. 23

University of Hawaiʻi-West Oʻahu
Contact:
Julie Funasaki Yuen, (808) 689-2604
Public Info Officer, University of Hawaii - West Oahu
Posted: Feb 9, 2015

The University of Hawai‘i – West O‘ahu 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 UHWO 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.

“Kumu Hina” reception, film screening and discussion

Monday, Feb. 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 Distinguished Visiting Scholar Hinaleimoana 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, Feb. 24, 2-3:20 p.m.

UH West Oʻahu, Classroom Building D253

UHWO Distinguished Visiting Scholar Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu will discuss transgender identity with UH West Oʻahu students taking SOC 439 (Sociology of Sexuality). There will be a 30-minute presentation followed by a question and answer session.

Panel discussion with Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu

Wednesday, Feb. 25, 5-6:20 p.m.

UH West Oʻahu, Classroom Building D141

UHWO Distinguished Visiting Scholar Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu and UH West Oʻahu students taking ENG 441 (Gender and Sexuality in Literature and Film) will discuss Western and Pacific Islander constructions of gender identities in a panel presentation format.

Established in 1976, the University of Hawaiʻi - West O‘ahu offers quality education, small classes and personalized attention with academic programs that emphasize the exploration of interdisciplinary and cross-cultural studies. UH West O‘ahu serves approximately 2,700 students at its brand new, state-of-the-art campus that opened in the City of Kapolei in 2012. For more information, visit www.uhwo.hawaii.edu, call (808) 689-2800 or toll-free (866) 299-8656. Find us on Facebook and Twitter.