2014,
English,
Hina Wong-Kalu,
USA,
Director: Dean Hamer & Joe Wilson
Release Year: 2014
Synopsis:
Kumu Hina (2014), directed by Dean Hamer and Joe Wilson, is a powerful documentary that explores themes of identity, culture, and community through the life of Hina Wong-Kalu, a native Hawaiian māhū, or transgender, teacher in Honolulu. The film offers an intimate portrait of Hina’s personal and professional journey, highlighting her role as a mentor to a young girl named Ho‘onani, and exploring the complexities of her own life as a transgender woman. In a world that still struggles with understanding gender fluidity, Kumu Hina is a groundbreaking exploration of how indigenous Hawaiian culture embraces gender diversity, offering a unique lens through which to view the intersection of tradition and modernity, self-identity, and the pursuit of love.
The term "māhū" holds a deep significance in Hawaiian culture. Historically, it refers to individuals who embody both male and female qualities and were respected for their ability to bridge the gap between genders. As a māhū, Hina Wong-Kalu occupies a place of cultural significance in Hawai‘i, where her gender identity is both a personal expression and an integral part of her cultural heritage. In the film, Hina not only navigates the complexities of being a transgender woman in contemporary Hawai‘i but also strives to live in harmony with her Hawaiian values, such as respect for family, community, and the land. Kumu Hina invites viewers into her world, exploring her work as a kumu (teacher) and her evolving personal life, in a documentary that is both poignant and empowering.
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The documentary’s narrative unfolds during a particularly eventful year in Hina's life. At the heart of the film is Hina's role as a teacher and cultural leader in a Honolulu middle school, where she instructs an all-male hula troupe. This troupe serves as a crucial space for Hina to impart lessons about Hawaiian culture, gender identity, and leadership. A turning point in the film occurs when one of her students, a young girl named Ho‘onani, steps forward to claim her place as a leader of the troupe, challenging the school's longstanding gender norms. Ho‘onani’s decision to take on a traditionally male role in hula is inspired by Hina's own example of living as a transgender woman and leader in a space where gender roles are rigidly defined. As Ho‘onani works to prove herself within the male-dominated world of hula, she is mentored by Hina, who uses her own experiences as a māhū to teach Ho‘onani about courage, resilience, and the importance of being true to oneself. Through Hina’s guidance, Ho‘onani learns that leadership is not about conforming to expectations or fitting into preordained roles, but about embracing who you truly are and carrying that authenticity forward with pride. The film poignantly portrays how Hina’s own struggles—balancing her roles as teacher, mentor, and transgender woman—inform her teaching and empower her students, particularly Ho‘onani.
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While Kumu Hina delves deeply into Hina’s professional life, it also explores the more intimate aspects of her personal journey, focusing particularly on her longing for love and companionship. In a deeply moving part of the film, we witness Hina’s search for a partner, as she enters into a marriage with a headstrong Tongan man named Lale. Their relationship is not without challenges, and Hina grapples with the tension between her desires for love and intimacy and the realities of living in a society that often marginalizes transgender people. As she confronts these challenges, Hina’s relationship with her Hawaiian heritage offers her the strength and wisdom to navigate her personal and emotional struggles, ultimately teaching her about the complexities of love, commitment, and identity. The film also sheds light on the tensions that arise within Hina’s marriage. Lale, a traditional Tongan man, initially finds it difficult to reconcile his partner’s transgender identity with his cultural expectations. Hina's journey of self-acceptance and understanding of her partner’s viewpoints is filled with moments of tension and compromise. The documentary doesn’t shy away from presenting these challenges, illustrating that even within a culture that has traditionally embraced gender diversity, the evolving modern context can still present obstacles in relationships.
At the core of Kumu Hina is the theme of aloha, a Hawaiian value that embodies love, compassion, respect, and unity. Through her life and work, Hina demonstrates how aloha can be a guiding principle for overcoming adversity, building community, and fostering understanding. This cultural ethos is not limited to romantic love but extends to a broader sense of compassion for all people, regardless of their gender identity or personal struggles. Throughout the film, Hina embodies aloha in her interactions with her students, her colleagues, and her family, showing that embracing one’s true identity is an act of love that has the power to transform both individuals and communities. The film also touches on the tension between indigenous Hawaiian values and the pressures of modern Western society. In many ways, Kumu Hina offers a critique of the way Western notions of gender and sexuality have been imposed on indigenous cultures, disrupting traditional practices that allowed for more fluid expressions of gender. The documentary highlights how Hina’s work as a kumu is not just about teaching hula but about preserving and revitalizing these indigenous values, which include the recognition and acceptance of people who exist outside the binary gender system.
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The film’s cinematography is beautiful, capturing the natural landscapes of Hawai‘i and the vibrancy of its cultural practices. The striking visuals of traditional hula performances, set against the backdrop of Honolulu’s modern skyline, serve as a metaphor for the clash between tradition and modernity. The scenes of Ho‘onani leading her troupe with grace and confidence, guided by Hina, are some of the film’s most powerful moments, showing how cultural traditions can evolve to embrace new generations and new identities. Kumu Hina has garnered widespread acclaim for its honest portrayal of the transgender experience, particularly within the context of Hawaiian culture. The film is not only a personal story of Hina Wong-Kalu’s life but also a larger commentary on the struggles and triumphs of transgender individuals worldwide. In many ways, Kumu Hina is both a celebration of Hawaiian culture and a universal story of human identity, offering a hopeful message about the importance of living authentically, honoring one’s roots, and finding love and acceptance in the face of societal challenges.
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In addition to its success as a documentary, Kumu Hina has become an important educational tool, used in classrooms and communities to spark discussions about gender diversity, cultural heritage, and the intersection of personal and social identity. The film has inspired many to reconsider their perceptions of gender and to embrace a more inclusive understanding of identity, offering a compelling vision of a world where everyone, regardless of their gender or cultural background, can find a place to thrive. Ultimately, Kumu Hina is a film about transformation: personal, cultural, and societal. It is a celebration of resilience and self-discovery, of embracing the complexity of one’s identity while remaining rooted in the traditions that give us strength. Through the lives of Hina Wong-Kalu and Ho‘onani, the film challenges viewers to rethink what it means to be a leader, a lover, and a fully realized human being in a world that is often quick to judge, yet capable of profound love and acceptance. The story of Hina’s journey is one of grace, strength, and unshakable belief in the power of aloha.
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