Kapaemahu

This article is about the monument in Hawaii. For the film, see Kapaemahu (film).
Kapaemahu (The Stones of Life) in Waikīkī.

Kapaemahu[a] refers to four stones on Waikīkī Beach that were placed there as tribute to four legendary mahu[a] (third-gender individuals) who brought the healing arts from Tahiti to Hawaiʻi centuries ago. It is also the name of the leader of the healers, who according to tradition, transferred their spiritual power to the stones before they vanished.[1] The stones are currently located inside a City and County of Honolulu monument in Honolulu at the western end of Kuhio Beach Park, close to their original home in the section of Waikiki known as Ulukou. Kapaemahu is considered significant as a cultural monument in Waikiki,[2][3] an example of sacred stones in Hawaiʻi,[4] an insight into indigenous understandings of gender[5][6] and healing[5][6][7][8] and the subject of an animated film and documentary film.[9][10]


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  1. ^ Boyd, James H. 1907. “Tradition of the Wizard Stones Ka-Pae-Mahu.” Hawaiian Almanac and Annual, ed. Thomas Thrum.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference waikiki was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Gutmanis was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference :7 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ a b Hamer, Dean; Wong-Kalu, Hinaleimoana (2022). "Kapaemahu: Toward Story Sovereignty of a Hawaiian Tradition of Healing and Gender Diversity". The Contemporary Pacific. 34 (2): 255–291. ISSN 1527-9464.
  7. ^ Blaisedell, Kekuni. “Historical and Philosophical Aspects of Lapaʻau Traditional Kanaka Maoli Healing Practices.” Motion Magazine 1997, Nov. 16.
  8. ^ Teoratuuaarii Moris. 2019. Na Pohaku Ola Kapaemahu A Kapuni: Performing For Stones At Tupuna Crossings In Hawaii. Masters Thesis, University of Hawaii Pacific Islands Studies.https://www.academia.edu/39776683/NĀ_PŌHAKU_OLA_KAPAEMĀHŪ_A_KAPUNI_PERFORMING_FOR_STONES_AT_TUPUNA_CROSSINGS_IN_HAWAIʻI
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference :8 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ "Kapaemahu documentary - Pacific Islanders in Communications".