A New Immersive, Virtual Experience into Hawaiʻi’s Past Now Available

By Sandy Harjo-Livingston - KHON2 - 8/7/24:

HONOLULU (KHON2) — The Bishop Museum is unveiling an exciting new virtual exhibit that takes visitors deep into the rich history of Hawai‘i.

The “Healer Stones of Kapaemāhū” exhibition brings to life the story of four extraordinary individuals who were honored with the placement of four large stones on Waikīkī Beach.These individuals, known as māhū, possessed dual male and female spirits and were celebrated for their healing arts, which they brought from Tahiti to Hawai‘i.

The Healer Stones of Kapaemāhū Exhibit

The Healer Stones of Kapaemāhū exhibition, housed in the Castle Memorial Building, offers visitors an immersive experience. The main gallery features life-size renderings of the stones and the spirits they honor.

Visitors can watch an animated film that tells the captivating story of these stones and the māhū healers. Following the film, guests enter a room with enormous projection screens that provide a visual history of the site and its significance.

This exhibit is not only a journey through time but also an educational experience. It sheds light on the holistic healing beliefs and practices of Hawaiians, who view the body, mind, and spirit as interconnected.

The exhibition includes displays of lāʻau lapaʻau (herbal medicines) and 19th-century lomilomi (massage) implements, highlighting traditional Hawaiian healing methods.

A new virtual experience

Recognizing the importance of making this history accessible to all, the Bishop Museum has launched an immersive virtual tour of the Healer Stones of Kapaemāhū exhibit.

This 360-degree tour can be accessed on mobile devices and desktop computers, allowing a global audience to explore the past and contemporary meanings of these significant stones.

The virtual tour, developed in collaboration with Lei Pua ʻAla Queer Histories of Hawaiʻi, offers multiple entry points for users.

Whether you prefer a brief overview or a deep dive into the extensive scholarly resources, the tour caters to different interests and levels of engagement.

It features a rich collection of objects, archival materials, photos, videos, and animations that tell the story of Hawai‘i’s traditions of healing, diversity and inclusion.

Preserving Hawai‘i’s queer histories

KHON2.com recently spoke with Dean Hamer, Vice President of Sustainable Energy Solutions at Pono Pacific, and Joe Wilson, co-director of Lei Pua ʻAla, to discuss their efforts to document and preserve Hawai‘i’s queer histories.

Hamer and Wilson, filmmakers and historians, have dedicated their work to uncovering and sharing stories of gender and sexual diversity in Hawai‘i.

Their project, Lei Pua ʻAla, aims to collect and preserve stories that reflect the diverse makeup of kānaka maoli (Native Hawaiians) and other communities in Hawai‘i.

One of their significant projects includes the story of the Kapaemāhū Stones, which has been brought to life through a children’s book, an animated film, and now the Bishop Museum exhibit.

Hamer explained.

“One of the things we realized as we were working on [Kapaemāhū] is that Hawai‘i has a very unique history for queer and māhū and aikāne people different than in other places in the world. We were interested in that to understand how that occurred and because we also think it’s something that people in Hawai‘i and the rest of the world really can learn a lot from. It’s a really special history; it’s different. And it’s important to know how Hawai‘i became the place that it is today.”

— Dean Hamer

Impact and importance

The Kapaemāhū Stones story highlights the importance of visibility and representation.

“Our work in bringing that story back to life revealed that when people have the opportunity to see themselves represented, particularly in their own community, as valued members of their community, it is incredibly impactful in a number of ways,” Hamer added.

The project aims to prevent the erasure of segments of Hawai‘i’s history that celebrate and honor the diverse makeup of its people.

By rejecting Euro-centric constructs that often overlook native experiences, the project hopes to bring forward stories that offer hope and reflect the multicultural and pluralistic society of contemporary Hawai‘i.

Call to action

Wilson and Hamer are actively seeking contributions from the community. They encourage anyone with stories of Hawai‘i’s queer history to contact them to ensure these histories are not lost.

“Our initial research is starting to bring some of those stories forward, and that’s what we’re excited to share in many different ways,” Hamer said.

You can explore the Healer Stones of Kapaemāhū virtual tour and learn more about Lei Pua ʻAla Queer Histories of Hawaiʻi by visiting the Bishop Museum’s website. If you have stories to share or know someone who does, Wilson and Hamer are eager to hear from you.

Click here for more information on the immersive virtual tour available at Bishop Museum.

This exhibit and the ongoing work of Lei Pua ʻAla provide a unique opportunity to connect with Hawai‘i’s rich and diverse history, ensuring that these important stories are preserved for future generations.