Māhū: A Trans-Pacific Love Letter Preview
Preview: 9/3/2026 | 30sVideo has Closed Captions
New theater production by Kumu Hula Patrick Makuakāne reclaims and celebrates māhū people.
Kumu Hula Patrick Makuakāne explores the history of the Hawaiian term māhū, or transgender, through the creation of a new theater production for audiences in San Francisco and Honolulu. The film interweaves the multi-media stage performance featuring hula, ‘oli, and moʻolelo with intimate interviews with the artistic collaborators of the show who are all acclaimed Hawaiian transgender artists.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Funding provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Māhū: A Trans-Pacific Love Letter Preview
Preview: 9/3/2026 | 30sVideo has Closed Captions
Kumu Hula Patrick Makuakāne explores the history of the Hawaiian term māhū, or transgender, through the creation of a new theater production for audiences in San Francisco and Honolulu. The film interweaves the multi-media stage performance featuring hula, ‘oli, and moʻolelo with intimate interviews with the artistic collaborators of the show who are all acclaimed Hawaiian transgender artists.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Where to Watch Pacific Heartbeat
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Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship- [Narrator]] The term "Mahu" refers to the state of becoming.
This is a reclaiming of that term and bringing it out of shame.
- You go out there.
You dance your dances.
You sing your songs.
And through your art form, people will see your humanity.
Ladies and gentlemen and everyone in between, welcome to "Mahu."
(gentle music)
NewA Beautiful Dance Performance by Kumu Patrick's Men Dancers
Video has Closed Captions
Kumu Patrick Makuakāne designed his show to be inclusive in dance, song, and costume. (2m)
NewMāhū, The Most Controversial Word In Hawaiian
Video has Closed Captions
What does it mean to be māhū? Kumu Patrick Makuakāne shares why it's the name of his show. (2m 10s)
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship
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Funding provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the National Endowment for the Arts.