Hello. I have a friend who is Hawaiian. He is one of the most honest, giving, and caring people I know. He attributes it to his native Hawaiian upbringing and the "Aloha spirit". What is this exactl

-- Lisa Stumph (lss@marlboro.edu), January 15, 1999

Answers

Response to Aloha

"Aloha" is one of the many words in the Hawaiian language that conveys strong emotional feelings - simply put in the English language in means "love". To Hawaiians the "Ohana" or "family" is the center of all relationships. Through this bond any member of the family could expect warmth and support through "Aloha".

-- Ruth Beauchan (Kuuipo27@msn.com), January 15, 1999.

From my own experience the aloha spirit is feelings of giving,warmth and friendliness that is created by the beautiful and magical islands of Hawaii. Maybe it's the weather,the natives or something else,but it sure is there! :)

-- Christina(Kilikina)Axiotakis (axiotakis@aol.com), October 27, 2000.

Aloha nui loa aikane. I lived in Hawaii Kaaimaaina stly for 12 years. For me, I was taught that aloha spirit is a feeling beyond the heart, it is the combination of love of self, fellow man and your higher power transmitted from one to another unconditionally through the act of pure love. That is when doing something it is truely for the joy of the person you are doing it for, not yourself. it is a transcenede spiritual love that is felt rather than seen, it is a reflection of generations of loving , giving people passing on the gift of a higher way of living throught he simpliest of forms of giving. The true meaning of giving is better than recieving......that is waht it is to me....maybe I never learn too good huh???? Gabrielle

-- Gabrielle Plooy (gpp854@netscape.net), May 10, 2002.