Celebrate Summer Reading! Our summer theme is E Heluhelu Kākou: Mele, and Hawaii’s public libraries will be celebrating the power of storytelling through music, chants, and poetry.

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Join us for a special presentation of The Return of Kapaemahu, a short film preview of the live performance composed and choreographed by Kumu Hula Patrick Makuakāne that tells the story of Hawaiiʻs legendary gender fluid healers.

Special guest Mark Mauikānehoalani Lovell will share his experience as a performer in the production, which takes place every Wednesday at 6:30pm on the Kūhiō Beach Hula Mound, steps from the site of the sacred stones in Waikīkī, where the māhū healers once lived and performed their miraculous cures.

Maui Lovell is a Hawaiian cultural resource manager, practitioner, and educator with the DOE, currently at Waikīkī Elementary.

A free activity workbook created by Kanaeokana will also be available while supplies last.

This program is open to all children, families, and teens.

The Return of Kapaemahu is based on Kapaemahu, the animated short film, children’s picture book, and Bishop Museum exhibition by Dean Hamer, Joe Wilson, and Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu that first brought the hidden history and meaning of the beloved moʻolelo to broad public attention in 2022.

North Shore residents Hamer and Wilson will also attend the Kahuku Library presentation to share information about their current storytelling initiative, Lei PuaʻAla Queer Histories of Hawaiʻi, which is producing The Return of Kapaemahu.

Anyone who requires an auxiliary aid or service for effective communication, or a modification of policies or procedures to participate in a program, service, or activity should contact library staff as soon as possible. Advance requests 48 hours or more before the event are encouraged but not required.

All programs are subject to change. See a schedule of upcoming events on the HSPLS Events Calendar.