“This movement for peace that is fueled by Aloha, starts with us”
–Tulsi Gabbard (June 3, 2017, email)
Aloha means hello and goodbye depending on the inflection, but it also has deeper meanings. The root of the word Aloha can give us some insight; Alo means to celebrate and ha means life, so another meaning is to celebrate life, “A” also means I, Lo means to give, and ha is breath or life force, so this can be translated to: I give you my breath, life. If you were drowning I would save you and give you mouth to mouth. Aloha is also codified in Hawaii state law, described originally by Aunty Pilahi Paki as the remedy to save the world.
Aunty Pilahi Paki: keeper of the secrets of Hawai’i Nei
[HRS §5-7.5]: “Aloha Spirit”.
(a) “Aloha Spirit” is the coordination of mind and heart within each person. It brings each person to the self. Each person must think and emote good feelings to others. In the contemplation and presence of the life force, “Aloha”, the following unuhi laula loa may be used:
“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.
These are traits of character that express the charm, warmth and sincerity of Hawaii’s people. It was the working philosophy of native Hawaiians and was presented as a gift to the people of Hawaii. “Aloha” is more than a word of greeting or farewell or a salutation. “Aloha” means mutual regard and affection and extends warmth in caring with no obligation in return. “Aloha” is the essence of relationships in which each person is important to every other person for collective existence. “Aloha” means to hear what is not said, to see what cannot be seen and to know the unknowable.
(b) In exercising their power on behalf of the people and in fulfillment of their responsibilities, obligations and service to the people, the legislature, governor, lieutenant governor, executive officers of each department, the chief justice, associate justices, and judges of the appellate, circuit, and district courts may contemplate and reside with the life force and give consideration to the “Aloha Spirit”. [L 1986, c 202, §1]
So the law is not binding and carries no penalty, yet this spirit of aloha serves as a base in which we can better cooperate to create a better world.
