Kumu Hina: Before the coming of foreigners to our islands, we Hawaiians lived in aloha, in harmony with the land and with one another. Every person had their role in society, whether male, female, or māhū, those who embrace both the feminine and masculine traits that are embodied within each and every one of us. Māhū were valued and respected as caretakers, healers, and teachers of ancient traditions. We passed on sacred knowledge from one generation to the next through hula, chant, and other forms of wisdom.
When American missionaries arrived in the 1800s, they were shocked and infuriated by these practices and did everything they could to abolish them. They condemned our hula and chant as immoral. They outlawed our language and they imposed their religious strictures across our lands.
But, we Hawaiians are a steadfast and resilient people. And so, despite 200 years of colonization and repression, we are still here.
This video excerpt is from A Place in the Middle: The True Meaning of Aloha, a 2014 short documentary film. The film can be viewed in its entirety here.