The Spirit of Aloha is the Law!

Before moving to Maui, we visited often, and I always felt wonderful while I was here. I couldn’t define why at the time, but I did see that everyone was friendly. We were always greeted with Aloha and thanked with Mahalo. When we moved here, I had the same feeling. I have always wanted to live where I knew my neighbors well, and for the first time in my life, I have that here. Almost every day we will barrow something from a neighbor, a neighbor will stop by just to say hello, or a neighbor will bake fresh bread and share it. We even exchange the produce from our gardens every week. In Hawaii, the word for family is Ohana, and my neighbors and other island friends definitely make up my Maui Ohana.

This weekend we had a big storm and many trees were blown down. My next-door neighbors were trapped in their car with fallen trees in front of and behind them. A man who had hiked up to his house because he couldn’t drive through the obstructions noticed my friends and invited them into his home, fed them, and gave them a room to stay the night with fresh sheets! What could have turned into a catastrophe turned into an adventure by this stranger sharing his Spirit of Aloha.

During Ron’s last week, although we were vegetarian, he decided he wanted bar-b-que ribs. No sooner had he mentioned that then the Ohana came together and created a fabulous feast. While this loving support is amazing, and I am eternally grateful for it, I discovered, it is the law!

Aunty Pilahi Paki (Aunty is the honorary title of endearment and respect for an older woman) wrote the Aloha Spirit Law when she foresaw that the world would experience great strife and would turn to Hawaii for healing. It was actually passed into law in Hawaii in 1986.

This is the Aloha Spirit law, according to Hawaii.gov:

[§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.  

    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 it turns out that the wonderful feelings I experience here are the law! Wouldn’t it be wonderful if people everywhere voluntarily practiced this philosophy? I have made it a part of my life which has changed everything for me. I hope your will embrace the spirit of Aloha too!

 

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol01_Ch0001-0042F/HRS0005/HRS_0005-0007_0005.htm