The Aloha Spirit

It’s been a few days since I’ve written.  Since returning home from our Maui trip, I got very busy with the task of preparing my classroom, creating lessons, and in general planning for the school year.  Now that school has started, I feel myself getting so busy that I fear I may not find time to write.  While it is not realistic for me to write as frequently as I did while on vacation,  I know I need to push myself to keep at it. 

One way that occurred to me to continue with my blogging is to reflect a bit on some of our time in Maui.  Thus today’s entry exploring something I learned while living on the island. I learned that the Aloha Spirit is more than just the welcoming and generous intentions of the Hawaiian people.  Though each experience everyday there were opportunities to practice aloha. 

Here is how Serge Kahali King, the author of The Little Pink Book of Aloha explains the etymology:

In the Hawaiian language, aloha stands for much more than just "hello" or "goodbye" or "love." Its deeper meaning is "the joyful (oha) sharing (alo) of life energy (ha) in the present (alo).

In everyday life, aloha might look like…

When uncle and aunty are shuffling down the sidewalk in their slippahs arm in arm for their mornings stroll, a jogger may alter course to run in the street and receive two big smiles and a "mahalo: for their respectful gesture.

Driving like a local in Hawaii and the is to always keep the driver side window rolled down so that you can wave a well tanned hand at other drivers to graciously give them the right of way.  (This is also a good tactic to allow you throw shakas, the hang loose sign, at your friends fishing at the beach park).

In general, taking the time to slow down and perceive the needs of those around you and possibly even finding a way to assist a person in need, is a given. 

Do you need a ride?  Do you need a meal?  No worries. 

This mindset is beautiful and I feel if more of us embraced it wherever we are, our world would be a more loving and nurturing place.  It is my hope that I can find little ways to spread aloha even though I’m back home.  Please join me,  how can you embrace a little aloha spirit in your life?