
Hinahina Gray is an artist and sensitivity reader based on Oʻahu, dedicated to informing and educating on Native Hawaiian issues in media. With a wealth of knowledge and resources on Hawaiian culture at her back, she is also a cultural sensitivity consult who assists on projects ranging from artwork to game development. An unapologetic nerd, she will play games and offer comprehensive critiques while doing so!
Being passionate about intersectional pedagogy, she continues to make art and literature more accessible through workshops involving comics and zines. Her oil painting and printmaking practices focus on how memory reacts to past experiences (nostalgia, gaslighting, reflection, delusion, saudade, sehnsucht). This is informed further by how she weaves her personal histories and experiences from being indigenous and a consistent interest in botanic languages.
She identifies within the queer indigenous Hawaiian spectrum known as Māhū which encompasses everything from her gender to her sexuality. All kinds of media are welcome (and she’s excited to do it)!
Sensitivity / Expert
- Native Hawaiian and White
- Hoʻomana Hawaiʻi
- Māhū
- Pansexual
- Depression, anxiety, and PTSD
- Indigenous Diaspora
- Native Hawaiian Spiritualism
- The Mixed-Race Experience
Preferred Genres
Anything!
Avoided Genres
None!
What Clients Say
Hinahina was very kind in her edit letter while still always explicitly telling me where I messed up in my story. Her words were sensitive to my feelings despite her being the one exposing herself to harmful material and choosing to engage with it. I am very grateful for her efforts and will certainly be using Salt & Sage again if/when the time comes.
I found Salt & Sage to be incredibly professional and organized. Erin was upfront about costs as well as expectations for both Salt & Sage readers as well as authors. Hinahina was comprehensive in her review of my manuscript, providing thoughtful input for me to consider. I appreciated her honesty, the questions she posed, and the kind nature in which she framed her wonderings. I highly recommend Hinahina for any writer needing input within her areas of expertise.