Kapaemāhū and the Mana of Māhū: Hawaiian Wisdom on Gender, Sexuality, and Sacred Roles
Kapaemāhū Exhibition. Bishop Museum. 2022
Aloha mai kākou. As Pride Month unfolds across the world, kānaka ʻōiwi have our own profound teachings to share about gender, sexuality, and the sacred roles that transcend Western binary thinking. Long before colonization imposed foreign concepts of gender and sexuality on our islands, poʻe kahiko understood and honored the full spectrum of human identity through the mana of māhū, the sacred relationships of ʻaikāne, and the healing power of those who embodied both masculine and feminine energies.
What is Māhū in Traditional Hawaiian Culture?
In traditional Hawaiian society, māhū represented far more than what Western concepts might define as "transgender" or "third gender." Māhū were individuals who embodied both masculine and feminine mana, often serving crucial roles as cultural knowledge keepers, healers, and spiritual guides. They were not marginalized or othered—they were recognized as possessing unique spiritual gifts that came from their ability to bridge different aspects of human experience.
The mana of māhū was understood to be particularly powerful because it combined the strengths of both kāne (masculine) and wahine (feminine) energies. This wasn't seen as confusion or deviation—it was recognized as a sacred gift that enabled māhū to serve their communities in ways others could not.
Kapaemāhū: The Four Healing Stones of Waikīkī
Who Were Kapaemāhū?
The most famous moʻolelo of māhū power centers on four legendary healers known as Kapaemāhū, who came to Oʻahu from Tahiti centuries ago. These four māhū—Kapaemāhū, Kinohi, Kapuni, and Kahaloa—possessed extraordinary healing abilities and served the lāhui with their gifts of medicine and spiritual guidance.
According to traditional accounts preserved in Hawaiian oral history, these healers established themselves at Ulukou in Waikīkī, where they used their combined mana to cure diseases and ailments that others could not heal. Their reputation for healing spread throughout the island, and people traveled great distances to receive their care.
The Sacred Stones and Their Mana
Before returning to Tahiti, Kapaemāhū transferred their healing mana into four large stones, ensuring their spiritual power would remain to serve future generations. These stones, known as the Kapaemāhū stones, stood in Waikīkī for centuries as tangible reminders of the sacred role māhū played in Hawaiian society.
Kapaemāhū when they were still on the Cleghorn property, in the care of Princess Miriam Likelike and her daughter, Princess Kaʻiulani. Before 1940, exact date unknown.
The stones represent more than historical artifacts—they embody the understanding that healing power often comes from those who exist between traditional categories, who can see and serve in ways that others cannot. The mana within these stones continues to be recognized by kānaka ʻōiwi today, even as urban development has obscured their original prominence.
ʻAikāne and Sacred Relationships Among Aliʻi
Understanding ʻAikāne Relationships
Traditional Hawaiian society also recognized and honored intimate same-gender relationships through the concept of ʻaikāne. These relationships, particularly among aliʻi, were not hidden or shameful—they were understood as expressions of deep spiritual and emotional connection that could enhance one's mana and social standing.
Historical accounts from the Hawaiian Kingdom period document ʻaikāne relationships among high-ranking aliʻi, including chiefs and chiefesses who maintained these bonds alongside their political marriages. These relationships were seen as sources of strength and spiritual power, not as contradictions to one's role in society.
Aliʻi and Gender Fluidity
Many aliʻi embodied gender fluidity in ways that would challenge contemporary Western binary thinking. Chiefs might take on roles traditionally associated with chiefesses, and vice versa, based on their spiritual calling and the needs of their people. This flexibility was seen as a sign of strong mana and adaptability—qualities essential for effective leadership.
The acceptance of gender fluidity among aliʻi reflected a broader Hawaiian understanding that rigid categories often limit human potential. Leaders were expected to embody whatever qualities their people needed, regardless of whether those qualities were traditionally associated with their birth gender.
Challenging Western Binary Thinking Through Hawaiian Wisdom
How Did Colonization Change Hawaiian Views on Gender and Sexuality?
The arrival of Christian missionaries in 1820 brought foreign concepts of gender and sexuality that directly contradicted traditional Hawaiian understanding. Missionary teachings imposed binary thinking that categorized people as strictly male or female, with rigid roles and expectations for each gender. Same-gender relationships and gender fluidity were condemned as sinful, forcing many māhū and ʻaikāne relationships underground.
This colonial imposition didn't just change social attitudes—it actively suppressed healing traditions and spiritual practices that had served the lāhui for generations. The mana that māhū brought to their communities was dismissed and demonized, creating wounds that persist in some Hawaiian communities today.
What Can We Learn from Traditional Hawaiian Concepts?
Hawaiian concepts of gender and sexuality offer profound alternatives to Western binary thinking that remain relevant in 2025. The understanding that individuals can embody multiple forms of mana, that healing often comes from those who exist between categories, and that love and spiritual connection transcend rigid definitions—these teachings speak directly to contemporary conversations about gender identity and sexual orientation.
The Hawaiian approach wasn't about creating more categories or labels—it was about recognizing the full spectrum of human experience and honoring the unique gifts that each person brings to their community.
Contemporary Relevance: Mana Māhū in 2025
Reclaiming Sacred Roles
Today, many kānaka ʻōiwi who identify as LGBTQ+ are reclaiming the sacred roles that māhū traditionally held in Hawaiian society. They're serving as cultural practitioners, healers, educators, and community leaders, drawing on both traditional Hawaiian concepts and contemporary understanding of gender and sexuality.
This reclamation isn't about appropriating identity—it's about reconnecting with cultural teachings that were suppressed by colonization. It's about understanding that the mana māhū possess has always been recognized and valued in Hawaiian society, even when foreign influences tried to shame or hide it.
Healing Colonial Wounds
The process of reclaiming māhū identity and ʻaikāne relationships also involves healing the wounds left by colonial suppression. This means educating Hawaiian communities about their own traditional teachings, challenging internalized homophobia and transphobia that came from foreign religious influences, and creating spaces where all expressions of Hawaiian identity can flourish.
Connection to Kekoa Creative Values: Authentic Representation vs. Cultural Sanitization
As a Hawaiian-owned business committed to authentic cultural representation, Kekoa Creative recognizes the importance of sharing these teachings without sanitization or colonial filtering. Too often, Hawaiian culture is presented in ways that conform to Western expectations, hiding the full spectrum of traditional Hawaiian life and values.
Why This Matters for Cultural Businesses
When we create products, share stories, or educate customers about Hawaiian culture, we have a kuleana to represent the full truth of our traditions—including the aspects that challenge Western assumptions about gender and sexuality. This isn't about being political—it's about being authentic to the culture we claim to represent.
Supporting LGBTQ+ kānaka ʻōiwi isn't separate from supporting Hawaiian culture—it's an essential part of honoring the full spectrum of Hawaiian identity that existed long before colonization tried to narrow our understanding of ourselves.
Building Inclusive Community
Just as Kapaemāhū served their community through healing that transcended traditional western categories, Hawaiian businesses today can serve their communities by creating inclusive spaces where all expressions of Hawaiian identity are welcomed and celebrated. This means recognizing that the lāhui includes people of all gender identities and sexual orientations, all of whom carry mana that strengthens our collective power.
Moving Forward: Honoring Mana Māhū
As we celebrate Pride Month and beyond, let's remember that Hawaiian culture has always included teachings about gender fluidity, same-gender love, and the sacred power of those who exist between traditional categories. The mana of māhū, the bonds of ʻaikāne, and the healing wisdom of Kapaemāhū offer profound gifts to contemporary conversations about identity and belonging.
MVPFAFF+: An Indigenous Alternative to Western LGBTQQIA+ Framework
For many Hawaiian and indigenous Pasifika folks navigating identity in 2025, the Western construct of LGBTQQIA+ doesn't fully capture the cultural richness and spiritual significance of traditional gender and sexuality concepts. MVPFAFF+ offers an alternative framework that honors indigenous understanding:
MVPFAFF+ stands for:
M - Māhū (Hawaiian third gender)
V - Vakasalewalewa (Fijian third gender)
P - Palopa (Tongan third gender)
F - Fa'afafine (Samoan third gender)
A - Akava'ine (Cook Islands third gender)
F - Fakaleiti (Tongan third gender)
F - Fakafifine (Niuean third gender)
+ - Inclusive of all other indigenous Pacific gender identities
This framework acknowledges that each Pacific culture has its own sacred understanding of gender diversity, with specific roles, responsibilities, and spiritual significance that can't be captured by Western terminology. For kānaka ʻōiwi and other indigenous Pasifika peoples, using MVPFAFF+ can be a way of honoring ancestral wisdom while navigating contemporary identity conversations.
Why This Matters in 2025
Using indigenous frameworks like MVPFAFF+ isn't about rejecting solidarity with broader LGBTQQIA+ communities—it's about asserting that our cultural concepts have their own mana and shouldn't be subsumed under colonial categories. When we use terms like māhū, we're not just describing gender identity—we're invoking centuries of cultural understanding about spiritual power, community roles, and sacred responsibilities.
Our kuleana is to share these teachings with the same respect and accuracy we bring to all aspects of Hawaiian culture. We must resist the temptation to sanitize our traditions to make them more palatable to Western sensibilities, and instead trust in the wisdom of our kūpuna who understood that diversity strengthens rather than weakens our lāhui.
The four stones of Kapaemāhū still hold their mana in Waikīkī, reminding us that healing power often comes from unexpected sources, and that those who embody multiple forms of mana have always had sacred roles in Hawaiian society.
A hui hou, and may we all honor the full spectrum of mana that flows through our lāhui.
ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi Glossary
Māhū - Traditional Hawaiian term for individuals embodying both masculine and feminine qualities
Kānaka ʻōiwi - Native Hawaiian people
Poʻe kahiko - People of old Hawaiʻi
Mana - Spiritual power, life force
ʻAikāne - Intimate same-gender relationships, beloved friend
Kāne - Masculine, male
Wahine - Feminine, female
Moʻolelo - Story, history, legend
Lāhui - Hawaiian nation/people
Kapaemāhū - Four legendary māhū healers from Tahiti
Pae ʻāina - Hawaiian archipelago
Aliʻi - Chiefs, royalty
Kuleana - Responsibility, authority, jurisdiction
Kūpuna - Ancestors, elders
Na'au - Heart, mind, gut feelings
