Bernard K. Punikai'a, Hawaii
"Upon the face of this child I see the pain he is enduring. 'The loneliness is overwhelming, Mama.'
"As I look at the photo of the six-year-old boy who was me, something happens. His pain coalesces with my spirit and that pain is no longer his alone.
"I want to tell him that the time will come when there will be laughter, joy, respect, and, yes, dignity. But I am unable to tell him that it will take a lifetime before this time arrives."
Bernard K. Punikai'a at the age of six.
Courtesy Bernard K. Punikai'a
