A folk tale from Hawaii, handed down through the generations orally, ‘Kapaemahu’ is about four mahus (extraordinary beings of dual male and female spirit) who  brought the healing arts from Tahiti to Hawaii some 700 years ago. Ten years of research on the story threw up different versions of the tale. In most of them, mahu, and mahu entertainers in particular, were demonised. Till recently, the word mahu was considered bad and that changed when the directors of ‘Kapaemahu’ discovered a handwritten manuscript from 1906 conveyed by James Boyd, a member of the Hawaiian nobility.

Kapaemahu is the name of the leader of the mahus, who were beloved by the Hawaiian people for their gentle ways and miraculous cures. The four boulders are believed to be gifts given to the mahus by the islanders in gratitude for their service. The mahus then transferred their healing powers to the stones and it is believed that even today they can be heard if only one is willing to listen. Although the stones still stand on Waikiki Beach, the true story behind them has been hidden from history until now.

Directors Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, Dean Hamer and Joe Wilson made the film in the Hawaiian language Olelo Niihau. The larger than life models of the mahus created by Sousa were inspired by Henry Moore sculptures. The mahus were drawn as very large female figures with broad shoulders and very small heads, with a kind of imposing presence to make them look like superheroes.The story is told from a child’s perspective.

In addition to winning awards at numerous film festivals, this film was also nominated for Best Children’s Film at the Ottawa International Animation Festival and won the Children’s Jury Award from The Chicago International Children’s Film Festival.

Wilson and Hamer are both gay and come from marginalised communities. After making ‘Kapaemahu’, they are thrilled that this story is being told in a grand and beautiful way. They hope that  it will resonate with young people in the transgender spectrum.

The canvas of ‘Kapaemahu’ is beautifully done by Oscar nominated Sousa. The tones used are green, orange and rust red. The highlight of the film is its music and chanting which is outstanding.

The scene of the concluding ceremonies at the beach in moon night is mesmerising to say the least. At times, it feels like you are present in the ceremony.

In the soul of the film is the word ‘Aloha’. It is the Hawaiian word for love, affection, peace, compassion and mercy, that is commonly used as a simple greeting but has a deeper cultural and spiritual significance to native Hawaiians, for whom the term is used to define a force that holds together existence. The essence of the film can be summed up in this word ‘Aloha’.