Photo Above: Dancers raise their arms to the night sky at the Kūhiō Beach Hula Mound and tell the story of “The Return of Kapaemahu.” (Photo credit: Aiko Yamashiro)

On January 28th, I had the honor of joining over 350 people at the 50th and last performance of “The Return of Kapaemahu,” a hula performance that tells the story of four powerful māhū healers from Tahiti who shared their powers and knowledge with Hawaiʻi centuries ago. Being māhū was the source of their power, and when they had to depart, four huge stones were erected in Waikīkī in remembrance.

Produced by Kumu Patrick Mākuakāne, and with thanks to the Mellon Foundation Monuments Project, the hula show has been held on the Kūhiō Beach Hula Mound for an audience of 200-300 at no cost every Wednesday since January 2025. The show is part of a three-year HCH project partnership with Lei Pua ʻAla. We send our deep gratitude to all who have worked on and supported this show, including an amazing cast—schoolteachers, flight attendants, artists by day, legends by night!!

At the end of their final performance, I joined a quiet procession down the beach to where the cast and community gave thanks to the Healer Stones of Kapaemahu themselves. In that moment, I could feel the entire circle—the hula had brought life to the stones, the pōhaku had brought life to the storytellers, and the story had brought life to all of us.

Lei Pua ʻAla Project Co-Director, Joe Wilson, shared this reflection that evening: that the most important part of this show are all the people there each night, people who take the time to listen. He invited us all to commit to sharing the story of Kapaemahu as well as other stories that help to broaden understanding, safety, and inclusion for all.

Let us continue to create these spaces of safety, connection, and storytelling in our communities.