The Kumu Hina Film and p4cHI at Kailua High School

KHS p4cHI teacher Clint Medeiros, Kumu Hina filmmaker Dean Hamer, and Uehiro Academy Director of Curriculum and Research Dr. Amber Makaiau

In the month of August, Kailua High School (KHS) p4cHI Teacher Clint Medeiros and Dr. Amber Makaiau had the opportunity to meet with filmmakers Dean Hamer and Joe Wilson to celebrate the launch of the Kumu Hina: A Place in the Middle film at KHS. Kumu Hina is a powerful film about the struggle to maintain Pacific Islander culture and values within the Westernized society of modern day Hawai’i. 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. Ninth grade ethnic studies students at KHS viewed the film and engaged in a p4cHI style plain vanilla inquiry about the film. Among their questions, the students were interested in inquiring about: What are the reasons that people in the world are so judgmental about sexual orientation? Can I infer that the people in the video are supportive because they were taught to be supportive? What are the reasons people treat others with respect in some areas of the world and others don’t? What are the reasons that some people aren’t proud of who they are?

Ninth grade KHS ethnic studies students Kumu Hina Plain Vanilla inquiry questions: