Living Aloha and Other Meanings
Aloha has been known as a way to say hello and goodbye, as well as another word for the loving spirit and soul of the Hawaiian Islands. It is used to add to the last day of the work week, in anticipation of a great time (Aloha Friday!) There is actually more to it than that. I want to share some thoughts about Aloha, and what it means to children, tourists, movie stars, and others.
A stands for AKAHAI meaning kindness to be expressed with tenderness
L stands for LOKAHI meaning unity, to be expressed with harmony
O stands for OLU'OLU meaning agreeing to be pleasant
H stands for HA'AHA'A meaning humility to be expressed with modesty
A stands for AHONUI, meaning patience to be expressed with perseverance.
~ Pilahi Paki
To learn how to pronounce the Hawaiian words, see the video below.
In Hawai'i we greet friends, loved ones and strangers with aloha, which means with love. Aloha is the key word to the universal spirit of real hospitality, which makes Hawai'i renowned as the world's center of understanding and fellowship. Try meeting or leaving people with aloha. You'll be surprised by their reaction. I believe it and it is my creed.
~ Duke Kahanamoku, 1890-1968
Aloha is my religion. I practice it every day.
~ Pilahi Paki
Aloha is not a greeting, it is a feeling...the feeling that God is present.
~ Reverend Abraham Akaka
The state of aloha can be created in an instant. It is a decision to behave with kindness, with generosity, wanting to give joy to another.
~ Auntie Irmgard Farden Aluli
For over half a century, the aloha shirt has been Hawai'i's most enduring and visible greeter and ambassador. Like a lei, the aloha shirt is worn as a statement of one's love for, and connection to, a most special place.
~ Dale Hope
Aloha is like when a puppy licks your face, only it's not so sticky.
~ Olan (5 yrs old)
Aloha is my favorite word because when you say it, it makes everyone smile.
~ Makoa (5 yrs old)
One day if you swallow a rainbow then you let some drip out of your mouth when you smile, that's what aloha is.
~ Hana (6 yrs old)
Aloha means we're friends forever – especially if you're invisible.
~ Shai (6 yrs old)
It should be a flavor of ice cream because it's that good.
~ Nikko (6 yrs old)
Aloha is when there is a room with a million strangers and then they say "aloha," and then they are not strangers any more.
~ Makana (7 yrs old)
Even though some people live in big fancy houses with a lot of toys, aloha makes us all the same.
~Rafelyn (6 yrs old)
Aloha is when you have to say good-bye, but you want to leave a piece of you behind because now you have to go home.
~ Sera (7 yrs old)
Aloha means you treat everybody nice even if you don't like the way they smell.
~ Tufaga (5 yrs old)
Aloha is one of the words that means everything good; which is good because everything would need a lot of words otherwise.
~ Devin (7 yrs old)
Aloha means I remember you even though I haven't met you before.
~ Tautalaasa (7 yrs old)
Aloha is all the good feelings like love and missing someone, but it isn't so mushy.
~ Nick (6 yrs old)
Aloha is the way we live.
~ Miss Na'a (kindergarten teacher)
Many of these quotes were from a book called Chicken Soup from the Soul of Hawaii by Canfield, Hansen, Linnea and Rohr, which I truly enjoyed reading.
