It's Aloha Friday, and I hope you are ready to kick back and relax this weekend!
Aloha, in the Hawaiian language means, love, affection, peace, compassion, hello, goodbye, and more. Saying Aloha is more than saying hello - it also conveys a sense of love and welcome.
There is a lot of talk, in Hawaii, about having the spirit of Aloha. I think that is my favorite part of our time here in Hawaii - seeing and feeling that acceptance and love.
There seems to be a strong sense of family, here. Families are strong and big and close. My friend, Lia, from American Samoa says that there is no word for Uncle or Aunt or Cousin in Samoan because all family is as close and caring as your own parents. Lia has family visiting with her all the time and is often away on the other islands to visit and help out cousins and aunties. She says the aloha spirit can get a little out of control!
That spirit of Aloha makes me think of my own family and my 6 sisters. We are spread all over the US, but when we get together there is an overwhelming feeling of love and acceptance and teaching and learning and family. We should all live here in Hawaii! We could take over this place...
Extreme Aloha sums it all up:
Aloha is a very special word in Hawaii. To use it freely is acceptable, but to use it appropriately means that you know the special feeling behind the word; Aloha. It means that you see the mountains as drive down the freeway and still marvel at them after all these years. It means that you like the feeling of warm sand between your toes, and cool salty water against your legs. It means that you don't mind stopping to pick up a piece of trash as you walk on the beach or sidewalk. It means that you remember to smile at total strangers, just because. Most of all it means you think Hawaii is one of the best places in this world to live, and you're happy to share it with others.
Do you have the Aloha Spirit?
ps - this Sunday I get the chance to try out the "Aloha Brothers and Sisters" to the congregation for the first time. I am a wee bit scared - but I know they'll answer back with a friendly "Aloha" and I'll feel better.
13 comments:
I never realized that Aloha was more than saying hello or goodbye. Thanks for sharing! Did it take you a long time to change the color and size in all those Alohas??? Do you feel all high tech now? :)
Good luck with your talk!
Aloha! Good luck on Sunday. You will do great! What direction did you decide to go with your talk? I don't get why they ask women to speak on Mother's day anyway.
Aloha! Thanks for the cultural lesson. Good luck on Sunday!
We have a book about the meaning of Aloha. The boys love it. At the end is a poem
"Aloha's a spirit, is what people say, who live in this land of hawaii nei. It's more than a word that much is true, it's our way of saying, we care about you!"
Yah, what did you decide to do your talk about for Sunday??
I had no idea that Aloha meant so much! Your 'Aloha Friday's' are fun!!
Oooo! How luverly and educational. I can actually tell my hubby that I learned something today. Thanks!
Thanks for the lesson. We studied Hawaii in 4th grade or so and learned about the vast meaning behind Aloha. Have fun on Sunday.
P.S. - I appreciate you as a milspouse and BIG Happy Military Spouse Appreciation Day to you. (I got stuff cuz I told a bunch of people about it - what can I say, it is my first and there will be nothing on Sunday.)
I love Aloha Fridays. By the time I get the chance to go to Hawaii I'm going to know everythng there is to know about it. Thanks Wendy.
my ward needs to learn about the Aloha spirit. wouldn't it be nice if we felt like this all over the world??
Good luck tomorrow Wendy! Just make sure that when you say "Aloha," if you don't get a loud enough response, you need to say it again, louder, over and over until you get the proper enthusiastic response from the ward.
Aloha!
Happy Mother's Day Wendy! I'm sure you will do great this morning!
:D Yeah, I ♥ Aloha Fiday.
My hubby is 1/2 Samoan so he always addresses the ward with "TALO-FA!" Except he's short with blue eyes, so I think he just confuses people...
GOOD LUCK!
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