The Spirit of Aloha
“Aloha is the word used to say both ‘hello’ and ‘goodbye’ in Hawaiian, but it means much more than just a simple salutation – aloha is a way of life.”
Aloha is a beautiful word with a very complex meaning. Many may know it as a greeting, farewell, or salutation. Aloha is the word for both ‘hello’ and ‘goodbye’ in Hawaiian. However, it means much more than just a greeting. Aloha is a way of life.
By definition of the Hawaiian Spirit Law, “Aloha Spirit” is the coordination of mind and heart within each person. It brings each person to the self. Each person must think and emote good feelings to others. It means mutual regard and affection and extends warmth in caring without obligation. “Aloha” is the essence of relationships in which each person is important to every other person for collective existence. ”Aloha” means to hear what is not said, to see what cannot be seen, and to know the unknowable.
Hawaiian Phrases
Akahai, meaning kindness, to be expressed with tenderness;
Lōkahi, meaning unity, to be expressed with harmony;
ʻOluʻolu, meaning agreeable, to be expressed with pleasantness;
Haʻahaʻa, meaning humility, to be expressed with modesty;
Ahonui, meaning patience, to be expressed with perseverance.
Philahi Paki, a great Hawaiian philosopher, spoke of aloha not only as a definition but as a legacy of Hawaii and its ancestors. Aloha embodies deeply held Hawaiian cultural beliefs about community, peace, spiritual truth, and expresses Hawaii’s hopes for a harmonious future that extends to the whole world.
The late Haleaka Iolani Pule, a teacher of Hawaiian spirituality, described aloha as “our innate sense to love things unconditionally… It’s a symbiotic relationship and the acknowledgment of that symbiotic relationship that you have with everything in the universe around you and recognizing exactly your space within it.”
You will know the spirit of aloha when you feel it. It is a life force, a moral code, an expression of love and a connection to nature.
One can live life with more aloha by following the 5 guidelines below:
- Value and spend time in nature
- Live in the present moment – and appreciate it
- Cultivate meaningful connections
- Choose to see the good
- Love always
We will expand those 5 ways in a later blog, so keep an eye out! Aloha is a beautiful word with a complex meaning. Not long ago, the Hawaiian language was almost lost. Hawaiian is one of the official languages of Hawaii, but in 1990, only a handful of Hawaiian speakers remained. Thanks to Hawaiian-language immersion schools, more people are learning the language. Efforts to revive Hawaiians are also helping. As a result, the number of native speakers is slowly increasing.
It is important to follow the spirit of aloha in your daily life. You will know the spirit of aloha when you feel it. People who live in Hawaii understand this idea well. It’s one of the unique traits of the state. This quality keeps people from all backgrounds visiting the islands over and over.
Spirit of Aloha Blog Resources:
Do You Have The Aloha Spirit? 5 Words To Live By
