Honolulu tells story of healers with dual male and female spirit through new plaque in Waikiki

By AUDREY McAVOY
Associated Press

HONOLULU (AP) — Honolulu officials have installed a new interpretive plaque for four large boulders in the center of Waikiki that honor Taihitian healers of dual male and female spirit. The healers visited Oahu some 500 years ago. The centuries-old boulders are protected by an iron fence in a beachside park surrounded by hotels and shops. The previous plaque didn’t acknowledge the healers were “mahu.” In the Hawaiian language and culture, mahu refers to someone with dual male and female spirit and a mixture of gender traits. Honolulu’s mayor says the future of tourism lies in teaching visitors about the culture of a place so they appreciate it for more than just natural beauty.