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As Donald Trump follows through on his campaign promises to bully and harass every minority he can in order to divide and conquer the American people, it’s more important than ever for state governments to stand up for the most vulnerable among us and show a better path forward.

This is especially true for the most recent target of the Trump administration, transgender youth. By — provided by the Departments of Justice and Education under the Obama administration — that protects the rights of gender diverse students to express their identity at school, Trump sent a clear message that it’s OK to discriminate against those who do not fall neatly into the gender category they were assigned at birth.

Residents of Hawaii are fortunate to live in a state with a long history of embracing and modeling diversity and inclusion. Before Western contact, those who embodied both male and female spirit, known as , were valued and respected as caretakers, healers, and teachers of ancient tradition.

In modern times, as more and more transgender and gender nonconforming students have begun to express their authentic selves, the Hawaii State Department of Education, with an occasional , has aimed at creating a learning environment where every child can feel supported and integrated into the school community.

These guidelines, which were announced last June and are now , are straightforward: schools should recognize a student’s sincerely held gender identity, address them by their preferred names and pronouns, and give them access to the activities and facilities that align with their identity. And yes, that includes restrooms, with the reasonable proviso that if any student feels uncomfortable or wants additional privacy they should be provided with an alternative.

The DOE also suggests ways that schools can educate and raise awareness about the need for such guidelines among students, teachers, staff, parents and the general community. Trainings have already begun in many areas, , and seasoned advocates such as Jo Chang are including presentations about them in their work with youth-serving agencies, including Hawaii’s juvenile justice system.

The guidelines have already had positive effects. Wendy, the whose elementary school made news headlines when it was revealed that administrators were not properly prepared to support her or her child, reports that “the school has stepped it WAY up this year, beyond expectations,” and that teachers and the entire staff now show that they “truly care” by implementing a safety plan that works for everyone.

Things have also improved at Kahuku High School, where the principal responsible for denying a transgender student’s right to walk in her graduation has been replaced, and implementation of the new guidelines has helped to significantly improve school climate.

“We’ve always had māhū at Kahuku,” said a veteran teacher at the school. “It’s very common in this community. The difference now is that these students don’t have to hide or worry about being penalized just for being who they are.”

Hawaii’s embrace of transgender students is a legacy of both the state’s progressive political traditions and its Polynesian roots. The fact that the guidelines have been implemented with so little controversy or backlash is indicative of the way that respect begets respect.

It’s a lesson that Donald Trump is probably incapable learning, but that other states would do well to emulate.