This is a brief history of the birth and the continuing legacy of the HPFF (The Honolulu Pride Festival Foundation.

Around February 2008, the Aloha Pride Center had the unfortunate task of closing it’s doors by the month’s end and for the first time since the Gay Pride events began in 1990, this year’s Pride Parade and Festival would not continue and need to take a break. Then it was decided that Pat Miller, his wife, Kat, and myself, Jonz V. Stoneroad create a non-profit organization so that Pride would continue and not be jeopardized. We created the group on the first day in March and by the ending of June, we had attained a title, applied for a 501 (C) 3 status with the I.R.S. and was able to work on the parade and festival which went quite successful when the Honolulu LGBT community came together to rally for support.

Then in the new year of 2009, the three of us knew that taking on this organization as well as the festivities attached was a far bigger responsibility that was done previously under the watchful guidance of the Aloha Pride Center (aka The Center Hawaii and the GLCC) with former directors Corey Wyness, Eduardo Hernandez, Ken Miller, Jacinta and Pride Festival director Calvin. We knew then that a new team needed to take over and whose dedication would equate to our own vision of keeping Pride alive in Hawaii and to keep it on a family and cultural level which is important to Hawaii.

In 2010, Janel Dulan assumed the responsibilities as the HPFF President with Arlei Patterson as the VP with Joanne Gilbault, Gladys Hayes, and a slew of volunteers who gave their hearts and energies out the past two years. Now, that 2012 is approaching, as a former Vice-President of the HPFF and former co-director of the Pride Parade and Festival, it is comforting to know this tradition of Pride is continuing and expanding island wide to Kona, and Maui. And as adviser to the HPFF, I will do my best to assist in whatever is needed for this team.

Happy New Year 2011 and Happy Gay Pride (as Pride is every day of our lives)