In this episode, three leaders from the Hawai’i Health & Harm Reduction Center (H3RC) talk about what it means to be māhū or transgender in Hawai’i today. They explain why Native Hawaiian culture’s long-held acceptance is colliding with imported beliefs, and what real allyship looks like for AsianAmericans who share the AANHPI label but not the same history.
We talk about what māhū means and why the English word “transgender” doesn’t fully capture it. We look at the difference between Hawaiian culture and “local” culture, shaped by plantation history and missionary influence, and the contradiction of people who say “māhū is okay, but trans is not.” Maddie describes “revving up,” the mental labor trans and māhū people do just to walk out the door. Kekoa explains how federal data cuts are erasing trans communities from HIV care. Kunane shares why harm reduction means walking alongside people instead of dictating their path. We also learn the meaning behind Kua’ana: an older sibling of the same experience who helps the younger one reach their potential.
For Asian American listeners, the call is to right-size ourselves, which means knowing when to step forward and when to step back. We share a label with Native Hawaiians, not a story. One is a diasporic history; the other is the history of an Indigenous people who were colonized. As Kunane puts it, courage can mean carrying it for someone else until they can carry it themselves.
About Hawai’i Health & Haram Reduction Center
The Hawai'i Health & Harm Reduction Center serves Hawai’i communities by reducing the harm and fighting the stigma of HIV, hepatitis, homelessness, substance use, mentalillness, and poverty in our community. We focus our efforts on those disproportionately affected by social determinants of health, including but not limited to: people living with and/or affected by HIV, hepatitis, substance use, and the transgender, LGBQIA+ and the Native Hawaiian communities. They foster health, wellness, and systemic change in Hawai’i and the Pacific through care services, advocacy, training, prevention, education, and capacity building.
Website: https://www.hhhrc.org/
About the Team
Kunane Dreyer is Deputy Director of Programs at H3RC andhas worked in HIV and hepatitis C prevention for more than 20 years. He recently built two new programs addressing houselessness on O’ahu. He received the 2025 Suzanne Richmond Crum Award from the Hawai’i Department of Health and the 2023 Circle of Harmony Award.
Maddie Sesapasara has served her community since 1998 andjoined H3RC in 2005. She now leads the Kua’ana Project, H3RC’s transgender services program, and testified in support of Hawai’i’s gender-affirming care shield law.
Kekoa Kealoha is the Ryan White Administrative Manager atH3RC, with more than 11 years in HIV care and prevention. Guided by a decolonial approach, he advocates for Kanaka Ōiwi and LGBTQIA+ communities from the Hawai’i State Capitol to the U.S. Capitol.
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Courage Class with Dr. Lindsay Kwock Hu and content posted by Dr. Lindsay Kwock Hu is presented solely for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from thispodcast or website is at the user's own risk. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional diagnosis or treatment. Users should not regard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health conditionthey may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professional for any such conditions.
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