Thursday 14 April 2016



One thing that happens over and over while you are visiting a Hawaiian island is that you are wished Aloha by locals – you receive very warm smiles, and witness their happiness through their laughter, love of the ocean and their total commitment to family.

I love going to the beach on the weekends and watching the locals celebrate by bringing their tents, barbeques, volleyball nets and their entire family including a comfy chair for Grandma. They play music, games, give high fives and just have a lot of fun!

This has always intrigued me and I find myself wondering why are they so happy?

– is it because they can count on the weekends having beach worthy weather?

-is it part of their make up or hereditary?

An example of an ALOHA greeting-- I was running down a remote beach the other morning and came across a group of Hawaiian guys fishing – for some reason Hawaiian guys can be very intimidating looking – most of them have a very stern face and they are usually covered in tattoos including some facial ones – and I was kind of nervous approaching them and wasn’t too sure which side of the fishing lines I should run on – as I got closer to them I made eye contact with one of them and his face lit up with a beautiful smile and he greeted me with a warm ALOHA as did each of his friends one at a time.

So I started doing some research on what the definition of Aloha is and was surprised to learn that Aloha Spirit is actually the law….couldn’t we all benefit from this law?

Wishing friends and family ALOHA today...

The Aloha Spirit Law is an existing law "on the books" in Hawai`i. It acknowledges that The Aloha Spirit was the working philosophy of native Hawaiians and was presented as a gift to the people of Hawai`i."

All citizens and government officials of Hawai`i are obligated by law to conduct themselves in accordance with this law, while performing their duties and obligations, as well as in their day-to-day living. Likewise, those visiting our fair islands are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with this Hawaiian law.

[§5-7.5] "Aloha Spirit" 

(a) "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. In the contemplation and presence of the life force, "Aloha", the following unuhi laula loa (free translation) may be used:

Akahai, [ah kah hai'], meaning kindness to be expressed with tenderness;      
Lōkahi, [LOH' kah hee], meaning unity, to be expressed with harmony;
Olu`olu, [oh' loo oh' loo], meaning agreeable, to be expressed with pleasantness;
Ha`aha`a, [hah' ah hah' ah], meaning humility, to be expressed with modesty;
Ahonui, [ah hoh nui'], meaning patience, to be expressed with perseverance.
These are traits of character that express the charm, warmth and sincerity of Hawaii's people. It was the working philosophy of native Hawaiians and was presented as a gift to the people of Hawaii. 

"Aloha" is more than a word of greeting or farewell or a salutation. 

"Aloha" means mutual regard and affection and extends warmth in caring with no obligation in return. 

"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.

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