Transgender Teen Reported Missing in Honolulu

Police are searching for 15-year-old Christian Kukahiko, who may be in a state of emotional distress.

Trudy Ring

Trudy Ring is The Advocate’s senior politics editor and copy chief. She has been a reporter and editor for daily newspapers and LGBTQ+ weeklies/monthlies, trade magazines, and reference books. She is a political junkie who thinks even the wonkiest details are fascinating, and she always loves to see political candidates who are groundbreaking in some way. She enjoys writing about other topics as well, including religion (she’s interested in what people believe and why), literature, theater, and film. Trudy is a proud “old movie weirdo” and loves the Hollywood films of the 1930s and ’40s above all others. Other interests include classic rock music (Bruce Springsteen rules!) and history. Oh, and she was a Jeopardy! contestant back in 1998 and won two games. Not up there with Amy Schneider, but Trudy still takes pride in this achievement.

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Trudy Ring

December 02 2013 6:35 PM EST

November 17 2015 5:28 AM EST

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Police in Honolulu are searching for a transgender youth, 15-year-old Christian Kukahiko, who was last seen November 19 at her home.

Television station KITV, which misgenders the teen by using male pronouns, reports that Kukahiko "may be emotionally distraught." Kukahiko is six feet tall and weighs 230 pounds, has black hair with red highlights, and has a tattoo of her last name on her lower back.

TransGriot blogger Monica Roberts notes that the use of male pronouns may impede the investigation. "Looks like Chris has acquired the characteristics and outward presentation of a young female, and should be addressed as SHE or with other feminine pronouns," Roberts writes. "Granted there may be family members that stubbornly say otherwise, but those of us NOT in Chris' family may only know her by a femme name or feminine pronouns.

"Referring to a person we know in the trans community only by female presentation, name and femme pronouns, by a masculine name and the wrong pronouns will draw quizzical looks from us, slow your investigation down, and may separate you from vital information you may need that is available in out trans community to help solve this case," explains Roberts.

Those with information that may help police find Kukahito are asked to call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300, or *CRIME via cell phone. To send an anonymous text message, text "CS808" plus your message to 274637 or CRIMES.