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Drag queens showcase Hawaiian gender-fluid heritage in Las Vegas

A drag show called “Mahu Magic” reminds the world of the respected place gender-fluidity has held in Hawaiian culture for hundreds of years.

By Associated Press

June 24, 2023

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VIDEO COURTESY AP
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, left, gets dressed before the Mahu Magic drag show at the Western Regional Native Hawaiian Convention, Tuesday, June 20, in Las Vegas. Wong-Kalu is mahu and a master teacher of hula and chanting.
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Kiana Jacobs applies makeup before performing in the Mahu Magic drag show at the Western Regional Native Hawaiian Convention, Tuesday, June 20, in Las Vegas
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Jasmine Lobitos-Cartwright, left, applies makeup to Leikia Williams as Kaimi Ehia, second from right, helps prepare Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu before the Mahu Magic drag show at the Western Regional Native Hawaiian Convention, Tuesday, June 20, in Las Vegas.
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Brozlyn Lechelle, center, greets other performers backstage before the Mahu Magic drag show at the Western Regional Native Hawaiian Convention, Tuesday, June 20, in Las Vegas.
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Leikia Williams prepares backstage before performing in the Mahu Magic drag show at the Western Regional Native Hawaiian Convention, Tuesday, June 20, in Las Vegas. Williams, the show's producer and one of its performers, said mahu was a derogatory word when she was growing up in Honolulu in the 1980s.
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Chevis Regal applies eyelashes before the Mahu Magic drag show at the Western Regional Native Hawaiian Convention, Tuesday, June 20, in Las Vegas.
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Performers, including Chevis Regal, center, hold hands before performing in the Mahu Magic drag show at the Western Regional Native Hawaiian Convention, Tuesday, June 20, in Las Vegas.
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Selena D'Angelo prepares backstage before performing in the Mahu Magic drag show at the Western Regional Native Hawaiian Convention, Tuesday, June 20, in Las Vegas.
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Leikia Williams blows a kiss backstage at the Mahu Magic drag show at the Western Regional Native Hawaiian Convention, Tuesday, June 20, in Las Vegas.
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Sasha Colby performs during the Mahu Magic drag show at the Western Regional Native Hawaiian Convention, Tuesday, June 20, in Las Vegas.
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Selena D'Angelo performs in the Mahu Magic drag show at the Western Regional Native Hawaiian Convention, Tuesday, June 20, in Las Vegas.
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Sasha Colby performs during the Mahu Magic drag show at the Western Regional Native Hawaiian Convention, Tuesday, June 20, in Las Vegas.
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Kiana Jacobs waves to the crowd after performing in the Mahu Magic drag show at the Western Regional Native Hawaiian Convention, Tuesday, June 20, in Las Vegas.
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Sasha Colby performs during the Mahu Magic drag show at the Western Regional Native Hawaiian Convention, Tuesday, June 20, in Las Vegas.
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Performers celebrate at the finish of the Mahu Magic drag show at the Western Regional Native Hawaiian Convention, Tuesday, June 20, in Las Vegas.

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