Aloha

A couple friends, a native of Hawai'i, and a transplant, like I was, shared a short video of a community on Maui singing thanks and sharing love and gratitude to the First Responders that saved their school and community from a wild fire whipped by hurricane force winds. 

The video showed a community and students circled around a dozen or so uniformed First Responders, covered to the tops of their heads with lei, a symbol of adoration. The circled community sang a beloved song, 'O Kou Aloha', meaning Your Love, which is a hymm of the school, all holding hands encircling the First Responders with their love, like the lei of love that adorned their necks. This kind of outpouring is not exclusively for such dramatic events; the singing and giving of lei and sharing as a community is a rich part of the the experience of being part of Hawai'i.

I left the Big Island of Hawai'i over 3 years ago, not for lack of love for the people and traditions, but for personal, familial needs. I never stopped loving life there, and in moments like this shared video, my heart aches for the sense of community I experienced there. Perhaps it is because smaller communities know each other more; perhaps it is because big cities seem to be a gang of people, rather than collaborative spirits. I don't know. Honolulu, even in the city, still has some sense of the trademarked Aloha Spirit, but not as palpable as the smaller communities all across the island chain. Visitors often miss the greatest beauty of Hawai'i, the shared heart of its people. That takes a while – one must breathe in the air, look, be willing to open your heart and eyes and ears, extend a hand in friendship and accept the hospitality of locals. Be grateful. Communicate. Smile.

I guess this might work even here, but I suspect it takes a while longer to get the reciprocal openness. Fear, selfishness, defensive isolation, these barricades make camaraderie difficult, but with little steps, even the most hardened can find tender spots in the heart. I hope you will try – share a little bit of Aloha!