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The Aloha Spirit: The Essence of Hawaii

By Sean Patrick

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Published: 20Mar2010
Word count: 453
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Many say that it might be Hawaii's tropical weather and beautiful beaches that bring people to Hawaii but it is the Aloha Spirit that keeps them coming back. The Aloha Spirit is a well-known reference to the attitude of friendly acceptance for which the Hawaiian Islands are so famous.

The first written record of the Aloha Spirit dates back to 1778 and the arrival of Captain James Cook and the first westerners to visit Hawaii. The Hawaiian people paddled dug out fishing canoes, surfboards and even swam out to meet the boat. Cook and his fellow shipmates were escorted to shore and enjoyed an overwhelming showing of hospitality. For weeks they enjoyed lavish parties and ceremonies in their honor. When they decided to leave, their ships were filled with all the fresh water and supplies that they needed.

Soon other foreigners came to Hawaii and were greeted with the same open arms that Captain Cook and his crew received. Hawaii began to grow from an isolated archipelago to the world renown tourist destination it is today. What makes Hawaii special is that throughout the transformation, the Hawaiian people were able nurture the idea of the Aloha Spirit and still live it to this day.

In order to understand the concept of the Aloha Spirit it is important to first understand the idea of Aloha. The literal meaning of aloha is "the presence of breath." It comes from "Alo," meaning presence, front and face, and "ha," meaning breath. Aloha is the idea of living life in peace and treating all living beings with love and respect. This starts with the concept of loving ourselves and then passing on that love to everyone and everything around us. Just as aloha is love, compassion, and grace; the spirit of aloha entails living with aloha day to day.

The idea of Aloha Spirit is so treasured and revered in Hawaii that is has been adopted into Hawaii State Law.

[§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.

The law goes on to say that the Aloha Spirit is a working philosophy for the people of Hawaii and should be practiced at all times.

Modern day Hawaii has come a long way from dug out fishing canoes, but the idea of the Aloha Spirit is still alive and well in the Hawaiian people. Its meaning goes beyond any definition found in dictionaries or travel guides. The Aloha Spirit is a Hawaiian symbol which is can not be defined but can be shared with a courteous gesture, an act of kindness or a heart-felt smile.

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