We started as a small group of friends getting together for pau hana once a month. We quickly realized that many of us were yearning for a queer community here on the Big Island. We got involved volunteering at the Hilo and Kona PRIDE events, and referring each other and our friends to LGBTQ+ resources we heard about through our networks. As our connections grew, we knew we had to share these events, resources, and support with all the fabulous people on the island we hadn’t connected with yet. That’s what started Equality HI.

At the start of 2021 we were awarded our 501(c)3 status, making us an official community resource. We hope that you will get involved with our events, sign up for our newsletter, and contribute to our ever growing, diverse and inclusive community here in Hawai’i.