Join the LGBTQ Affinity Group and Asian Network at Yale for a virtual screening and discussion of Kumu Hina, a powerful feature documentary about the struggle to maintain Pacific Islander culture and values within the Westernized society of modern day Hawaii. It is told through the lens of an extraordinary Native Hawaiian who is both a proud and confident māhū, or transgender woman, and an honored and respected kumu, or teacher, cultural practitioner, and community leader.
Kumu means teacher, and Kumu Hina has a lot to teach the world about how to educate with aloha – love, honor, and respect for all.
By depicting a culture that embraces rather than rejects those who embody both male and female spirit, Kumu Hina offers a compelling model of the advantages diversity brings to the entire community and the importance of understanding and preserving indigenous culture. Exploring topics ranging from bullying to colonialism, the importance of parental acceptance, and support to the difficulties of holding on to Pacific Islander values in a highly Westernized society, the film has universal appeal to everyone who seeks a more just and peaceful world.
All members of the Yale community are welcome.