HONOLULU (KHON2) — June 1 begins International Pride Month around the world. And a local Pride kicks off their celebrations, too.
The Aloha Maui Pride (AMP) is taking place for nine days with lots of fun things to do and adventures to take.
Kimberly Stephan Tate, a dedicated advocate for the 2SLGBTQ+ community, shares her journey and the impactful work of AMP.
“I’ve done LGBTQ advocacy work and worked with the community for many, many, many years,” she explained.
Tate’s involvement with AMP began after moving to Maui, where she initially attended events before joining the committee. The organization, under new leadership since 2019 and strives to be inclusive and culturally respectful, especially of kānaka maoli heritage.
“Our primary purpose is the annual pride event, but we try to supplant that with lots of different events throughout the year,” Tate said.
These events include a monthly brunch, hikes, movie nights and family activities, ensuring there’s something for everyone.
The upcoming pride celebration, from June 1 to June 9, promises a variety of activities, starting with a pride boat party in partnership with the Pacific Whale Foundation at Maʻalaea Harbor from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tickets are required.
“It’s going to be so much fun,” Tate enthusiastically revealed. “We’ll have music, pupu, cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages.”
The pride brunch at Nalu’s South Shore Grill follows on June 2, featuring specials like mimosas and kimchi bloody marys. “They always give us specials,” Tate mentioned.
The Mayor’s Pride Proclamation and Pride flag raising takes place at the County Building on June 5 at 10 a.m., with attendees invited to lunch at 808 Old Town Bistro afterward.
On June 7, Youth and Family Night at Kalama Park Pavilion from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. offers bouncy houses, tie-dye t-shirt making, crafts, skating and pizza.
“It’s going to be a really great event,” Tate said. “Last year, we had probably three or 400 folks come.”
June 8 features a pride hike on the Waiheʻe Coastal Trail from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. and the Pride Festival on Market Street in Wailuku from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Everyone in the community is invited to celebrate.
“We’re shutting down the road, which we’re really excited about,” Tate noted.
The festival includes live music, drag queens, entertainment, food trucks and various merchants and nonprofits. The after-party at Da Playground from 8 p.m. to midnight caps off the day.
The celebration concludes with a Pride BBQ at Kamaole Beach Park on June 9 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“Aloha Maui Pride will provide beef and veggie burgers and some chicken, but feel free to bring a side,” Tate invited the whole community to join in.
Reflecting on the Maui fires, Tate became emotional.
“We reached out to folks in the community and just said, if you’ve personally been impacted by the fires, please let us know. We want to do whatever we can to make funds available to you,” she shared. A GoFundMe campaign raised money to help those affected, though Tate acknowledges, “Is there ever an amount of money that you can give someone that is gonna be enough?”
The community’s response was heartfelt, with one man, battling cancer and having lost everything, expressing profound gratitude. The fires have left a lasting impact on the Maui community.
“It’s hard. There’s a lot of people that we know that have lost loved ones, have lost pets, have lost everything they own,” Tate said.
Despite this, the spirit of resilience and support remains strong. “We’re hoping to bring more joy and light to people by hosting an event like this,” she said, emphasizing the need for ongoing support and community building.
Aloha Maui Pride continues to foster love, support and acceptance through its diverse programming and events. Tate encourages everyone to get involved and help shape the future of pride events.
“We’re always looking for people’s voices, your opinion. We’re always looking for people to come volunteer and get more involved,” she said. For those interested in contributing, Tate welcomes contact via email and the Aloha Maui Pride website and social media.
In a community still healing from the devastation of the fires, the upcoming pride events symbolize hope, resilience and the enduring power of unity and love.
You can click here for more information. You can click here to visit their Facebook page and here for their Instagram page.
AMP’s passion and dedication shine through as they work tirelessly to create a welcoming and inclusive space for all. Happy Pride!