Living Aloha and Other Meanings
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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)
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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.
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Thanks HealthyHanna. Glad you enjoyed it. I appreciate your comments.
A L O H A! What a great hub on such a fun word. I loved it. Aloha oe! :)
Aloha is a good word that by itself brings up an image of Hawaii.
Thanks LianaK. Aloha is a very meaningful word, and all positive.
So true dahoglund. Share a little aloha....
Loved reading all these quotes! I would love to be "living aloha" in Hawaii every day :)
Thanks M. Rose. You can actually "Live aloha" and not be in Hawaii. It is also a state of mind and the way you treat others. I appreciate your comments.
How lovely.! aloha.....
wow aloha is really beautiful like your hub !!! beautifully formatted Voted Up
Thank you Dim - and back at ya!
I appreciate your positive comments spsingh.
Thank you Dim - and back at ya!
I appreciate your positive comments spsingh.
Very nice hub, elayne. I can feel the aloha spirit emanating from it!
When I first came here, I took a few semesters of Hawaiian and during the first class, the teacher said that "aloha" means, "... love mercy, compassion, regard" and feelings of well being must exist between the speaker and the addressee when spoken."
It reminds me of the greeting, "Namaste," which, loosely translated means, "The divinity in me sees (bows to, respects, acknowledges) the divinity in you."
Thanks for sharing that insight PWalker281. That is great that you have studied Hawaiian. It is a very beautiful language.
Yes it is, and it helps a lot when you're trying to pronounce some of the street names :-)!
Loved reading this hub, and the comments of our fellow hubbers that follow. :0) Went so far as to bookmark it.
Was in Hawaii when I was 10 years old, and Al Harrington from Hawaii 5-0 greeted us. My mom and I traveled with the community college at which she was taking classes at the time. What awesome memories. Loved the Tiki house and the Hawaiian cultural center...and the Aquarium on Oahu. Haven't returned, but I have faith that some day I will. I still have the apple seed necklace that one of our native Hawaiian hosts gave me while I was there. :0)
Aloha, Elayne!
Go glad it brought back great memories for you Seafarer Mama. Hope that you get to return to Hawaii, sooner rather than later. Mahalo nui loa (thank you very much)!
Very nice and interesting hub which is well shared.
Thank you Sun-Girl. Glad that you enjoyed it.
It must be wonderful to live there. The very word makes such a pleasant atmosphere.
Glad you feel that way Hello, hello, Aloha is definitely a positive word. Thanks.
Sweet aloha to you my dear. Great hub, love it, the beauty fo aloha shines through it. :D also thanks for joining my site. :D aloha kakou :D
Glad you could feel the beauty of aloha shining through the hub Sa'ge. Aloha nui loa.
This was awesome, especially the quotes from the children - funny and beautiful at the same time. Thoroughly enjoyable.
Thanks Seeker. I love the children's comments also. They are the best!. I appreciate your comments. Aloha!
Very interesting. Not many words can mean two things that are opposite -- hello and goodbye,
So true BlissfulWriter - aloha is more than a word - it is a lifestyle, character trait as well as a gift. Thanks for commenting.
aloha, just popped by, spotted your page in the features, thanks for some nice cup of aloha... aloha no...transplanted Hawaiians in Portland,O.
Aloha to you, too KawikaChann. Happy to meet you on HP. Hope you are enjoying Portland - beautiful country!
Aloha, Awesome! My mother lived & worked in Hawai'i during WWII. She embraced the spirit of Aloha while there, and it stayed with her the rest of her life. She had a dictionary of Hawaiian words, and I loved to look through it, the fluid words rolling over my tongue. I was particualrly impressed with the name of the tiny fish with a name many times its size. ;-) (Humuhumunukunukuapuaa!) Such fun to say! Aloha, little fish!
She used to say that Aloha means, "Hello, and goodbye, and farewell, and till we meet again, and so much more."
Blessings, Peace, Love, and Friendship all come to my mind in recalling my mother's adventures.
This was a great article,and I loved the "swallow a rainbow" comment..kids sure can put things succinctly!
Voted up, and danced all over the other buttons!
Aloha!
Mahalo nui loa (thank you very much!) DzyMsLizzy. I am so glad that you enjoyed it, and that it brought up such wonderful memories. I appreciate all your thoughtful comments.
Aloha seems like a nice way to live elayne - very peaceful and happy!
It is an ideal, that is hard to grasp sometimes, but at least we can have it as a goal. Thanks CMHypno.
A feel good hub. Lucky you to live in Hawaii. Aloha.
Yes, often I feel lucky! Thanks ethel!
Awesome hub. You did a beautiful job explaining the meaning of Aloha. Elayne, I'm sending you a big hug and a warm aloha!
I appreciate the hug and aloha punacoast. Glad that you enjoyed my hub. Aloha right back at ya!
Thanks for sharing and teaching us some of your language. I marked you up on this one, it is awesome. Writing is a creative means for the soul. Please check out my new venture: http://NanMynatt.OneGreatMovie.com
Thanks Nan for your positive vibes. I will check out your new venture. Wishing you much success.
HealthyHanna Level 1 Commenter 12 months ago
This makes me smile. It is good to find things that make you smile. Aloha.