During this workshop, we built scents from memory with Roger Alcain, founder of MĀHŪ. We reminisced about childhood memories, travels across the ponds, and our first leis, and we'll built scents that brought them all back. Roger J. Alcain is a dreamer with a passion for life, a travel addict with an endless curiosity to see and learn. He was born and raised on the Big Island of Hawai'i in the town of Kona and is currently based in New York City. The idea behind his brand Māhū and it's products comes from a wish to share a piece of himself and where he comes from with the world. He believes that everyone's happy space should be celebrated, and that being in between is a wonderful place to be!
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For this gathering, we screened two incredible shorts by filmmakers Joe Wilson and Dean Hammer who also joined us for a Q&A. The first short film, THE ROGERS, is an intimate glimpse into the lives of those who formed the first visible group of transgender men in the Pacific Islands - The Rogers of Samoa – as they build an outside oven, seek romance, and prepare to perform a traditional men’s dance in public. While still facing many obstacles, their stories illustrate the power that come when those rejected by society create their own community.
The Rogers is still streaming on PBS with another film Aotearoa and we'd also recommend learning more about the topics highlighted in these films and many more like them with the discussion guide, which provides the audience with additional resources and topics of discussion to really immerse yourself in these stories. References from the discussion:
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