ABOUT THIS ISSUE
In its simplest form, aloha is used to welcome and bid farewell; to express love; and paired with the right word, to greet morning, noon or evening. But an early lesson taught to children by ancient Hawaiians presents aloha as much more complex, used to define one’s place in the world, and essentially, a code to live by: Aloha is being a part of all, and all being a part of me. When there is pain—it is my pain. When there is joy—it is also mine. I respect all that is as part of the Creator and part of me. I will not willfully harm anyone or anything. When food is needed I will take only my need and explain why it is being taken. The earth, the sky, the sea are mine to care for, to cherish and to protect. This is Hawaiian—this is Aloha! According to kahuna David Bray, living with the aloha spirit is to realize one’s breath and body and to live in harmony with one’s self before being able to spread that love out to others. The spirit of aloha was even written into state law in 1986 as “The Aloha Spirit Law.” The aloha behind this code of conduct is defined as such in the following unuhi laulā loa, or free translation:
“Akahai,” meaning kindness to be expressed with tenderness; “Lokahi,” meaning unity, to be expressed with harmony; “Oluolu,” meaning agreeable, to be expressed with pleasantness; “Haahaa,” meaning humility, to be expressed with modesty; “Ahonui,” meaning patience, to be expressed with perseverance. This spirit of aloha radiates out from each and every one of us, from those who have spent their entire lives here to those who have just recently arrived in the islands. Inevitably, this spirit of aloha is present in every part of Hawai‘i’s culture, from local jewelry and alohawear artisans to locally owned restaurants and retailers. So when you’re in the islands, whether interacting with communities, or each other, let the first thing you reach for be made-in-Hawai‘i, let the first thing you reach for be aloha.
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Made-in-Hawai‘i aloha shirts by Reyn Spooner.