Hawaii Island Pride - 2009 Gay Pride Weekend

HIP Member BIO's

Hawaii Island Pride NOT FOR PROFIT

CRYSTAL LEISHMAN - FOUNDER / FESTIVAL COORDINATOR & BOARD MEMBER
in 2005. She donated her time as a volunteered for many years to the Folk Life Festival, Seattle Gay Pride Parade, Lambert
House and was a volunteer for Toys in Babyland Pride Float. She is a very passionate and driven woman that has a strong
personal connection with the LGBT community. Moving to the Big Island in 2005 from Seattle, where there is a prevalent
LGBT network and community, was a shock as there was no real LGBT community base on the Big Island. This was when
HIP was born...

JEN JOHANSEN - PR COORDINATOR & BOARD MEMBER

COMING SOON!

MAGGIE FOLEY - ENTERTAINMENT COORDINATOR & BOARD MEMBER

COMING SOON!

JUDE HERRERA - YOUTH ADVICATE COORDINATOR & BOARD MEMBER
"We are put on this earth to help each-other." This is the main reason Jude chose to become involved with Hawaii Island
Pride. As a young gay person growing up in Los Angeles, Jude had the amazing benefit of having many positive gay role
models in his life. "I am proud to be a self -loving out gay man in the Hawaiian community. My biggest wish is that my
presence here will help others who are struggling with their sexual identity. We are all gods children , and we are all worthy
of his love." Jude has lived n Kona for 3 years and has been involved with HIP since it's inception in 2008. Jude is single ;)

KEOLA SHIMOTSU - BOARD MEMBER
Keola was born and raised here on the Big Island in Kailua Kona. He has been with HIP since the beginning as a Board
Member. Helping the youth is very important to Keloa. He would like to act as a gay mentor for Hawaii's LGBTQ youth
struggling with their sexuality. Keola ventured to Oahu for about 6 years where he lived and volunteered for IKON a gay
youth group. He found this to be rewarding and saw that he could make a difference.

JAIN - VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR
Born and raised in Chicago's south side till she was 18 years old, Jain moved to the Big Island in 1988 when she was 22.
She has a son, 2 dogs and 2 cats. Jain is an adrenaline junkie, who loves to do anything that makes her heart go fast. Her
biggest passions are golf, scuba diving, snowboarding and mountain biking. Jain has been a dedicated volunteer of
Hawaii Island Pride since the 1st Annual Gay Pride Festival and is now our new Volunteer Coordinator.

PHOTO
COMING SOON!

2009 HIP QUEEN

Cyenna Nohealani Italanie
Travys

Carryng the torch that has been
passed on to me by our kupuna.
Living my life day to day with the
values I have been taught, I am
more then just Miss Hawaii
Island Pride 2009 Cyenna
Nohealani Italanie Travys. Born
on the Island of Oa'hu, and now
residing on Moku o Keawe for
the past 10 years. I am a father
of 2 lovely boys, I am a teacher
of hawaiian arts, one of 2 kumu
hula for Hula Halau 'o Aloha in
Honoka'a, a graduate of
Konawaena High and School
class of 1998. Being the creator
of my own destiny, making that
long journey one step at a time.

Brian - ENTERTAINMENT COORDINATOR
Brian has dedicated and donated his time and equipment as a DJ for the past two years to Hawaii Island Pride for our
Festival and fundraising events. Brian is happily married to his lovely wife Dipa and has been a successful DJ for the past
10 years. He has always made it a point to donate or contribute to the surround community through Relay for Life events,
the food bank and Hawaii Island Pride. We are excited to welcome Brian as one of our new Entertainment Coordinators

COMING SOON!