Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 33, Number 8, 1 August 2016 — Kumu Hina honored in Washinqton, D.C. [ARTICLE]

Kumu Hina honored in Washinqton, D.C.

Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu was honored at the National Education Association's Human and Civil Rights Awards dinner on July 3. Wong-Kalu, also known as Kumu Hina, was this year's recipient of the NEA Ellison S. Onizuka Memorial Award for her work in educating others about Native Hawaiian culture "Like the brave visionaries who forever intertwined the NEA and ATA in social justice advocacy 50 years ago, we honor these 13 American human and civil rights heroes because they are doing what we know is right, just and courageous," NEA President Lily Eskelsen Garcta said of the award recipients. "They are confronting the most controversial and pressing issues facing our country. They are standing up for those who have been knocked down. They are

offering a heaeon of light to those left behind. They are making sure the voices of those drowned out by institutional racism, inequality and disenfranchisement are heard. They motivate us, they inspire us through their deeds and actions, and they embody what is just and right about our world." Kumu Hina, who began to transition from male to female while in college, found pride, dignity and refuge in her Hawaiian culture and went on to teach Hawaiian language, hula, oli and history. She also provides guidance on curriculum and protocols that preserve the Hawaiian culture. One of her many notable achievements is the award-win-ning PBS production, "A Plaee in the Middle," a keiki-friendly film that focuses on aeeeptance, love and anti-bullying.