Transgender Day of Remembrance: Holding Space for Community and Healing

More than one hundred community members gathered as H3RC hosted Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 20, a solemn and heartfelt event honoring the lives of transgender, māhū, and gender-diverse people lost to violence in the past year. The ceremony included the reading of names, reflections from community leaders, and tributes to local transgender community members who recently passed away.

This year’s observance carried an even deeper meaning with the announcement of a transformative 2.5 million dollar gift to establish the Erin Pouline Investment for Gender Affirming Health. The gift, made privately by Erin’s family, honors her life and ensures that future generations of transgender and gender-diverse people in Hawaiʻi can access affirming and compassionate healthcare. Erin, a loved member of Hawaiʻi’s transgender community, passed away in 2024, and her family chose to honor her legacy by expanding access to care for others.

The investment will sustain and grow H3RC’s Gender Affirming Care Clinic, which provides low-barrier and high-quality medical care, behavioral health support, and assistance navigating services with dignity and respect. It will also strengthen the Kuaʻana Project, H3RC’s peer-led support program for the transgender community.

Speakers throughout the evening reflected on the resilience, beauty, and strength of Hawaiʻi’s transgender community. Maddalynn Sesepasara, Kuaʻana Project Manager, shared that this historic gift will help ensure that transgender community members can access the care they need without fear or discrimination. The announcement served as a powerful reminder that even in grief and remembrance, there is hope and a commitment to move forward together.

H3RC is honored to steward Erin’s legacy and remains dedicated to providing affirming care and support for transgender, māhū, and gender-diverse people across Hawaiʻi.