Ova Da Rainbow: HAWAII'S STORY (3)

Permissible Discrimination

In March of 1992, the State of Hawaiʻi, despite being almost famous for ignoring all letters, emails, calls and more for interviews about the latest thing she could have an opinion on, finally answered an email from a small-time reporter from KHON, Evangeline Canesta.

The young Ms. Canesta, having only been a reporter for a little over a year, was told that there was no way in hell that Hawaiʻi was going to answer her email. And if she did, it would very specifically be in a joking manner that she did respond.

And of course she wouldn't want to speak on the homosexual issue that happened just a little while ago. Apparently some crazy guy, by the name of Bill Woods, had decided to take one male and two female couples to the main office of the Hawaii Department of Public Health in downtown Honolulu, where they would complete applications for marriage licences.

Everyone knew that Aloha means love, and it was a type of love that was being spoken about this very day. Hawaii was the Aloha State, of course it was here that people would talk about this, this idea of what kind of Aloha is allowed.

But to everyone's surprise, Hawaiʻi did respond. And she agreed to an interview.

"We are very honoured to have Miss Hawaiʻi here with us live on KHON." Mrs. Canesta started. "Here to speak about the growing spectacle once again involving Bill Woods, the same man who, only a few years ago, registered the name 'The Moral Majority of Hawaii" specifically in an attempt to thwart the much more well known "Moral Majority" of the mainland to come to Hawaiʻi."

"Oh, that's the son-of-a-bitch who did that. I want to shake his hand for that, then." Hawaiʻi said, smiling a little.

Mrs. Canesta blinked slowly, before continuing. "Well, as you may know, Woods is now saying that under our state constitution, there is no law forbidding couples to marry, so why wouldn't they be allowed? You, of all people, should remember the constitution the best."

"Is that what you think I do in my free time?" Hawaiʻi said, raising an eyebrow and laughing. "Jesus, you people really know nothing about us. But yes, it's true there's nothing against it. I know it's a monumental issue, never done before in the mainland US."

"Well... it's a matter of protecting the traditional family."

"Having the random gay couple down the street marry doesn't cause the traditional family to die." Hawaiʻi said, before sighing a little. Under the table, she squeezed her leg with her hand to stop it from shaking. "We are always going to be different, in that regard. People here are... I would like to believe we are a bit more open than most."

"Why did you agree to speak now, instead of the many other times you have been asked about other issues?"

"Because this one concerns me the most. Personally. I guess. Maybe I was just feeling nice today." Hawaiʻi shrugged, faking nonchalantly. "I've also had first hand disapproval from many people I know personally, which makes it all the more fun."

Mrs Canesta tilted her head, and motioned for Hawaiʻi to continue.

"Very... very recently, a very close personal friend of mine passed away, because of who she was." Hawaiʻi said, clenching her fists under the table, letting a comforting heat return to them. "She was shot down in broad daylight, killed because she dared to love and present herself differently. Because she was māhu. A woman born as something that didn't suit her heart."

One more simple step forward.

"For the past 20 to 30 years, I've been asked for my stance on it, whether it be from friends, family, politicians, or activists. And I want to finally put my two cents in, not only for the sake of myself, but for the sake of all who live in Hawaii."