24 Jan New hula show highlighting mahu voyagers debuts in Waikiki
The free show will occur every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. on the Kuhio Beach hula mound
HONOLULU (KHON2) — Lei Pua ʻAla Queer Histories of Hawaiʻi presented the premiere of their new hula show, “The Return of Kapaemahu,” which is based on the long-hidden story of four legendary voyagers of dual male and female spirit who brought healing arts from Tahiti to Hawaiʻi long ago.
The show will be performed weekly on the Kuhio Beach hula mound, just steps from four stones that honor the mahu healers.
The premiere took place two days after President Donald Trump declared that “there are only two genders, male and female,” saying that is “official policy of the United States government.”
Despite the president’s declaration, Native Hawaiians and Tahitians celebrated mahu people, who embodied both masculinity and femininity in spirit, as they were revered as healers and leaders.
“We in Hawaiʻi are fortunate to live in a land that not only recognizes but celebrates and honors gender diversity,” said Lei Pua ʻAla co-Director Dean Hamer. “I hope that the thousands of visitors who see this show will take that message home with them and spread it far and wide.”
“The Return of Kapaemahu” was composed and directed by Kumu Patrick Makuakane, who is the first Native Hawaiian recipient of the prestigious MacArthur Foundation Genius Award. Makuakane is noted for his contemporary choreography grounded in the fundamentals of traditional hula, which he calls “hula mua.”
The production was inspired by “Kapaemahu,” the Oscar-shortlisted animated short film by Hamer, Joe Wilson and Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, which revived the traditional moʻolelo and central role of mahu.
“At its core, this story is a reminder from our kupuna of how to treat people with aloha and respect even if you view them as different,” Makuakane said. “Because in the end, they’re not different. They’re your ʻohana, your friends. They’re you. Just a more fabulous version of you. And couldn’t we all use a more fabulous version of ourselves to remind us of our potential?”
“The Return of Kapaemahu” is a production put on by Lei Pua ʻAla Queer Histories of Hawaiʻi, a project designed to honor more expansive histories of gender and sexual diversity across the multicultural landscape of the islands.
“Through our work on ‘Kapaemahu’ over the past ten years, we’ve seen how empowering it can be for people who have been marginalized and erased for so long to finally be able to see themselves reflected and valued in the life and culture of their community,” said Wilson, who is also a Lei Pua ʻAla co-director.
The premiere was attended by many, tourists and locals alike. The free, one-hour show will be performed every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. throughout 2025, weather permitting. There will be no show if Kalakaua Avenue is closed for parades or block parties.
“This extraordinary production by Kumu Patrick is a great example of visitor entertainment that’s not only enjoyable but culturally meaningful, educational and impactful,” Hamer said. “And because it is free to the public, it is a wonderful addition to the resurgence of Hawaiian cultural programs now helping to reshape the visitor experience in Waikiki.”
Additional sponsors of “The Return of Kapaemahu” include the City and County of Honolulu, Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority, Kilohana by the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, Waikiki Business Improvement District, Hawaiʻi Council for the Humanities and Mellon Foundation.