Kaulike No Nā Mea A Pau: Toward Queer Justice in Hawaiʻi (Zoom Webinar)
Monday, November 25, 2024
12:00-1:00 PM (HST)
Join the King Kamehameha V Judiciary History Center and Lei Pua ʻAla Queer Histories of Hawaiʻi on Zoom, in celebration of the new exhibit, “Kaulike No Nā Mea A Pau: Toward Queer Justice in Hawaiʻi.” This thought-provoking discussion explores Hawaiʻi’s complex history of gender and sexual diversity, and what factors are at the root of Hawaiʻi’s inclusive stance on gender and sexuality today. Learn about Mōʻī Kamehameha III’s male partner, Kaomi. Together, they co-ruled in a bold resistance to missionary hegemony in a brief yet significant chapter in Hawaiian history known as “the time of Kaomi.” And landmark legal battles, such as the Miss Gay Molokaʻi Pageant in 1985, will highlight social backlash and legal responses to issues of sex, gender, and identity expression across the islands.
This virtual talk story was recorded live Monday, November 25, 2024, featuring distinguished guests: Maui attorney Lance D. Collins, Kanaka Maoli historian Adam Keawe Manalo-Camp, Molokaʻi attorney Karen M. Holt, and Co-Director of Lei Pua ʻAla Queer Histories of Hawaiʻi Dean Hamer, who is also co-curator of the new exhibit.
DISCLAIMER: While the Hawaiʻi State Judiciary provides a venue for diverse discussion, the speakers’ remarks do not necessarily represent opinions of the Judiciary.
Featured Panelists:
Lance D. Collins, Esq.
Lance D. Collins, Esq. is an attorney in private practice on the island of Maui. He also holds a PhD from the University of Hawaiʻi, and publishes scholarship about the comparative legal histories of Hawaiʻi and the Philippines during their American colonial periods. He also wrote and produced the award-winning feature film “My Partner,” Hawaiʻi’s first Boys’ Love-genre film and the last production shot in Lahaina before the devasting fires in August 2023.
Karen M. Holt, Esq.
Karen M. Holt, Esq. has been an attorney on Molokaʻi since 1981, beginning her career with the Legal Aid Society of Hawaiʻi. Originally from Oʻahu and a graduate of Roosevelt High School, she holds a Bachelor’s from the University of Rochester and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Oregon. In 1985, she played a pivotal role in supporting Kumu Hula Billie Kaaihue, who was denied a permit by Maui’s Mayor to hold the Miss Gay Molokai Pageant. With assistance from the Hawaiʻi ACLU, the case led to a ruling in favor of the event, highlighting Molokaʻi’s spirit of acceptance and community.
Adam Keawe Manalo-Camp
Adam Keawe Manalo-Camp is a Native Hawaiian historian and researcher, who writes about history, culture, economics, and social issues from a Hawaiian point of view. He calls Papakolea Homestead and the Philippines home, and holds a BA in Anthropology and MA in Museum Studies. He’s held positions within the State of Hawaiʻi’s Department of Education, Public Safety, and Judiciary.
Dean Hamer
Dean Hamer is Co-Director of Lei Pua Ala Queer Histories of Hawaiʻi, a multidimensional project that documents and commemorates Hawaiʻi’s history of gender and sexual diversity. He is a graduate of Trinity College and Harvard Medical School, scientist emeritus at the National Institutes of Health, Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, and New York Times Book-of-the-year author known for his many contributions to our understanding of human sexuality and gender.