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ʻŌpio at Lydia House Celebrate Equality, Honor Differences

As told by the Lydia House Team

In October, our teammates and ʻōpio at Lydia House participated in Pride Month, where identities were celebrated, experiences were validated, and space was shared for everyone to feel seen, valued, and supported.

In one activity, participants formed paper chains into the shape of a rainbow-hued butterfly, an emblem of freedom and resilience. We also explored the Pride flag, interpreting each color through the lens of Hawaiian values — such as aloha (love), ho'ohanohano (respect), and pono (righteousness). This activity encouraged conversations about respect and acceptance for everyone, especially within our LGBTQIA+ community. (See below for the rainbow color descriptions.)

Viewing the flag’s colors in a cultural context was a new idea for one participant (name withheld for privacy), who later said, “I learned how to accept and leave opinions and judgments to the side.”

For Transgender Day of Remembrance, the ‘ōpio attended a vigil in downtown Honolulu to honor those lost to violence due to their gender identity. As they listened for several hours to a list of names read out loud, they were reminded of the ongoing struggles faced by the transgender community. Some even marched in the Pride Festival’s parade, a personal moment of self-awareness and healing, amid the colorful flags and upbeat music.

Our Lydia House team (photo below) is guided by the values of Queen Liliʻuokalani, whose legacy of care, inclusion, and justice drives what we do. When the Queen established her deed of trust in 1909, she dedicated her resources to support Hawaiian youth, particularly orphans and those from destitute backgrounds. This is the heart of our work at Lydia House.

Our youth face challenges that few others can fathom. They have lived their childhoods on the streets or in shelters. They have left their families after abuse or neglect. Many in the foster care system are on the verge of age 18 and will no longer qualify for social services for minors — leaving them vulnerable as young adults. But at Lydia House, we support them, no matter the circumstances.