In Polynesian culture, Mahu embodies the ideal of spiritual duality and is viewed as a special and revered third sex. When Captain James Cook arrived in Hawaii in the late 18th century, he wrote detailed journal entries about the Aikane and the Mahu, or transgender members of the community. The Hawaiian language doesn’t even have gender pronouns like “he” or “she,” and, in the past, same-sex (Aikane) relationships between High Chiefs and talented men were not just common but revered. Ancient islanders understood that people were made up of both male and female qualities and didn’t assign a gender binary to anyone. Hawaiian culture has always had a deep appreciation of the fluidity of gender and sexuality.
LGBTQ+ locals share their favorite spots off the beaten path.
