Hawai'i's ancient gay culture
Written by Eliot Rifkin | 25 August 2010
Eliot Rifkin looks at the traditional gay culture of Hawai'i where sexual activity was enjoyed openly and without concern.
http://blaze.gaynewsnetwork.com.au/feature/hawaiis-ancient-gay-culture-003978.html (http://blaze.gaynewsnetwork.com.au/feature/hawaiis-ancient-gay-culture-003978.html)
Few people appreciate just how gay-friendly Polynesia was before European contact. Even our own Captain Cook, who passed through Hawai'i, noted in his journals same-same (Aikane) relationships as well as transgenders (Mahu).
The ancient Hawai'ians weren?t uptight about relationships and possessed an understanding of human beings' dual nature comprised of both masculine and feminine qualities. The concept of opposite sexes is foreign to Hawai'ian thought and their language contains no female or male pronouns like 'he or she'. This reflects the Polynesian emphasis on integration and balance of the male and female gods. The Mahu embody this ancient Polynesian principle of spiritual duality and are viewed as an honoured intermediate sex.