Wgst 3405 - Activism Response

Richelle Roach

2 April 2, 2016

WGST 3405

Activism Response

        Transgender is a term used to describe people whose gender identity differs from the sex the doctor marked on their birth certificate. This term applies to the protagonist - Hina Wong-Kalu, a transgender woman who documents her life teaching school children traditional songs and dance in Hawaii. She is a 43 year old women who was born and raised in Hawaii as a boy named Collin but in my twenties transitioned to become a woman, Hinaleimoana, which means Hina encircling the sea.

        Despite facing a large number of challenges, she moved on to grade from the University of Hawaii, is fluent in Hawaiian and three other Polynesian languages, a cultural consultant for several organizations and corporations, appointed by the Governor to Chair the O'ahu Island Burial Council, and a respected teacher with 15 years of experience educating students in grades K-12 about our history, traditions and philosophy. What I loved about this documentary is that there are so many layers to it, but the most important thing is that although Hina is considered a cultural icon in Hawaii, she is trying hard to protect and preserve her culture, heritage, arts, her language and all this while openly embracing her transgender identity. Despite her having physical features and mannerism of a male from her appearance, on the other hand you can tell that she desires and wishes to be a woman from the way to acts and teachers her students. The two points I found refreshing in this documentary is that first of all, all of the students respect Hina, I’m pretty sure if Hina came over to teach in the states she would have been so violently harassed by students and teachers alike. According to Hina “In my school, I make sure that every student has a “place in the middle” where they are judged not by their gender but on their work and accomplishments.” This holds true when Hina takes a young girl named Ho’onani under her wing who doesn’t consider herself to be either male or female, but somewhere in the middle of the spectrum. Ho’onani eventually asks Hina if she can join the all-male dance group for the end of the year performance. This is amazing and groundbreaking in its own right. Some people may see this as something outlandish and weird for a girl to want to be so enthusiastic about being a part of an all-male dance group. Other’s would call her crazy, immediately judge her and tell her that she needs to remain with the girls. Hina on the other hand, has experienced this type of judgement in her life, while she was young and especially during her transition, and she doesn’t want this young woman to suffer the same consequences in whatever path her life takes her.