Released in 2014, the docu Kumu Hina follows Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, a native Hawaiian teacher, cultural leader, and trans woman, as she mentors students and advocates for the preservation of her native language, culture, and values. Through her journey, the film explores themes of gender diversity in Indigenous Hawaiian culture, where māhū (those embodying both male and female spirit — I talked about this with Sasha Colby, remember?) were once respected as teachers and healers.
Kumu Hina serves us an incredibly intimate and empowering portrait of identity and the resilience of cultural pride in modern Hawaii.
