One of the first actions President Donald Trump took after he was sworn in was to declare that the federal government will recognize only two sexes — male and female.

That declaration comes during a week when a new hula performance premieres in Waikīkī about a longstanding part of Indigenous culture — Māhū, which are people who share both male and female spirits.

Kapaemahu is the name of a short animated film and book about the healing stones of Waikīkī, and now the hula that tells the story will be a part of Waikīki through 2025.

The Conversation’s host Catherine Cruz talked to producers Joe Wilson and Dean Hamer about the production.

Kumu Hula Patrick Makuakāne is set to breathe new life into an ancient Hawaiian legend with The Return of Kapaemahu. This groundbreaking live performance premieres on January 22, 2025, at 6:30 PM on the hula mound at Kuhio Beach in Waikīkī and will run every Wednesday throughout the year. The free, one-hour show promises a stunning blend of tradition and innovation.

Renowned for his contemporary choreography deeply rooted in traditional hula, Makuakāne introduces audiences to hula mua—a modern approach incorporating contemporary music. His vision brings a fresh perspective to the story of Kapaemahu, a tale of four legendary māhū healers of dual male and female spirit. These figures are celebrated for their wisdom, compassion, and healing abilities, as detailed in the Oscar-shortlisted animated short film Kapaemahu by Dean Hamer, Joe Wilson, and Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu.