“MĀHŪ: A Trans-Pacific Love Letter” follows master hula teacher Patrick Makuakāne and a remarkable ensemble of māhū (transgender) Hawaiian artists as they prepare a bold stage production that honors the cultural and spiritual significance of gender diversity in pre-colonial Hawaiʻi. Through hula, chant, and intimate interviews, the film brings forward powerful voices like Kumu Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, Iwalani Hoʻomanawanui Apo, and Kaumakaiwa Kanakaʻole – each sharing personal and ancestral narratives of identity, resilience, and artistry. At once historical and celebratory, “MĀHŪ” is a reclamation of the indigenous truths of queer Pacific Islander experience.
