The “Aloha Spirit” is something unique to Hawaii. While other cultures may have similar
concepts or ideas, few places on Earth seem to resonate this way of life as does
Hawaii. Those lucky enough to be born
and reared here, the “Aloha Spirit” is a way of thinking and way of life they
absorb through the living examples they see all around them. There are some key words in Hawaiian that
exemplify this way of life.
Hawaii’s state motto is “Ua Mau
ke Ea o ka Aina i ka Pono" (“The life of the land is perpetuated in
righteousness"). Two key words in
the motto are “Aina” and “Pono.”
Aina (sounds like I--like the
pronoun for me + nah) means land. Hawaii
is one of the most remote island groups in the world. It is about 4,023 km / 2,500 mi from the
nearest continent. The islands are a
land oasis in the midst of the vastness of the Pacific Ocean. For the inhabitants, it is the source of
life. It provides for their needs, but
is a limited resource. As such, they
respected and protected it in order to sustain themselves and future
generations.
Modern
research shows many people experience a calm, soothing sensation when outdoors
and surrounded by greenery. This can
happen even in urban gardens when a field of view is dominated by gardens. New York City residents report this sensation
even when in small roof top gardens.
This is, in part, why the National Parks Conservation Association
encourages people to visit and support the US National Park System. The National Wildlife Federation attempts to
bring Nature to the people with their “Backyard Habitat” and “Schoolyard Habitat”
gardening programs.
Pono (sounds
like poe—as in Edgar Allan Poe + no) generally
means “righteousness.” The sense in the
State’s motto essentially means Hawaiian people living respectfully on the land
do the right thing in all things as a way of life. They respect each other and the environment. This concept empowers people to do good or
right things for others without expectation or consideration for reward or
recognition. You simply do the right
thing because it is the right thing to do.
[Note: Originally there was no private property. All people had a vested interest in
protecting the land in order to get food and sustenance in the middle of the
ocean. The land division system of old
Hawaii (ahupua’a; sounds like ah-who +
pooh-ah-ah) created wedge-shaped parcels of land extending from the
mountains to the sea. Essentially this
assured ecologically sustainable units.
Westerners brought concepts of private land ownership that destroyed the
Hawaiian system. The land was fragmented
by special interests seeking sections for waterfront, agricultural, commercial
and other special interests. This
segmentation of the environment was arbitrarily based on self-interest and counter to the
natural order for Hawaiians.]
Three
related concepts give more insight to the “Aloha Spirit.” Hawaiian culture is communal. The word “Ohana” (sounds like oh + ha +
nah) loosely translates to “family.”
The word originates with taro (the basic staple food plant for the
islanders). Many shoots come from the
same root. This connotes the sense that
all people come from the same “root” and are thus all one big family. The term applies equally to biological family
members as well as friends and co-workers.
It recognizes that people are social by nature. And as Gandhi said, ““Interdependence is and ought to be as much
the ideal of man as self-sufficiency. Man
is a social being. Without interrelation with society he cannot realize his
oneness with the universe or suppress his egotism. His social interdependence enables him to test
his faith and to prove himself on the touchstone of reality.”
Mana (sounds like mah-nah) relates to
power. But the Hawaiian sense of power
is through life force energy not mere physical strength or material
possessions. As a dynamic entity,
mana changes by increasing or decreasing based on your live actions relative to pono.
The more righteous your actions, the more mana you have. Harmonious relationships and being helpful to
others gains mana. This is how pono and mana work together and make for a sustainable way of life.
Aloha (sounds like Ah + low + ha) is a very
fuzzy Hawaiian term. It embraces
and embodies love, charity, empathy, compassion, sympathy, kindness,
gentleness, and much more. This word is
used when greeting and when parting. The
context is intended to remind people that love is an all embracing life
force. Some translate it
as “Joyfully sharing life.” When you do your work and conduct
your relationships and business with a aloha, life is more
harmonious.
The
Aloha Spirit is an inherent part of life in Hawaii. When people born and raised in the islands
move away, the Aloha Spirit goes with them.
These migrants export the Aloha Spirit from the islands and dispense it
wherever they go. They plant the seeds
of Aloha everywhere. The Aloha Spirit is
alive and well in S.E.E.D.S.
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