Spreading "Aloha" (Hilo, Hawaiian Beaches: for sale, condo, mortgage)

[Mikala43]

Originally Posted by Pikake

Sharing and offering food is second nature to locals. It does not matter if that scoop of rice is all you have to your name; what matters is that you offer it. Of course it often turns into "No, no you go ahead. I ate already, but thanks!"

I have other examples of Aloha, but my brain is tired.

-Pikake

This one. All the time. /rofl

I was in outside sales,, and had to stop making calls during lunch because every client would tell me to come in and eat with them!!

[Pikake]

Originally Posted by Mikala43

This one. All the time. /rofl

I was in outside sales,, and had to stop making calls during lunch because every client would tell me to come in and eat with them!!

That's how we roll in the islands.

12PM in the break room at my work is the place to be if you forget to pack lunch!

[Grassyknoll]

As other have stated, for us Aloha has been a lot of how you interact in public-being courteous when driving, holding doors, allowing the aunties to cut in line at the register etc... It's funny, I lived in a small, close-knit neighborhood in California for 12 years prior to moving to Hawaii. In that neighborhood, I had many friends and we would wave when passing, those I didn't know, wouldn't give or receive a wave. I know far fewer people in my new, much larger neighborhood, but I get (and give) way more waves and shakas than I ever did back in California. I would say that for nearly 80% of the cars that pass in my current subdivision, the occupants smile and wave as they pass. It's such a little thing, but don't underestimate the impact it has on mood and quality of life.

Volunteering, sharing the food we grow, picking up hitch-hikers, checking to see if stranded motorists need help, these are just some of the ways we try to spread Aloha. Leaving mainland attitudes and expectations behind is a big first step towards living Aloha.

[Irish Eyes_Mrs. Z]

Originally Posted by Grassyknoll

Volunteering, sharing the food we grow, picking up hitch-hikers, checking to see if stranded motorists need help, these are just some of the ways we try to spread Aloha. Leaving mainland attitudes and expectations behind is a big first step towards living Aloha.

Well, I am happy to say, then, that my husband and I are well on our way to that Aloha spirit. All those things that you mentioned, we already do, here. I think we'd probably fit in quite well in Hawaii :-).

I'm really enjoying reading everyone's posts and examples of how they live that "Aloha spirit" in their everyday lives. I hope more people will chime in with examples from their own lives. It's all good stuff!

[Dthraco]

It took a while to leave the road rage behind and just mellow out and show aloha. I'm not saying I have perfected it, but letting people in, smiling, and not honking is way less stressful than the alternative. And the funny thing is that if you look at it from that point of view you realize that the only people getting stressed out by being angry with traffic is the people getting angry with traffic. Let someone in, forget about it. Race them to cut them off, and both parties are steaming for hours. Not worth the effort.

[hawaiian by heart]

Most have covered the general aspects of aloha. Another aspect of aloha is love the aina, culture and try to protect ohana and its people. This is another aspect of aloha that isn't talked about much. Its actions like watching your neighbors house, not littering protecting the culture and this aspect of Aloha can even be a mother protecting a child.

Many words in the Hawaiian language has multiple meanings, Aloha can mean hello, goodbye and love.

[Grassyknoll]

Originally Posted by hawaiian by heart

Most have covered the general aspects of aloha. Another aspect of aloha is love the aina, culture and try to protect ohana and its people. This is another aspect of aloha that isn't talked about much. Its actions like watching your neighbors house, not littering protecting the culture and this aspect of Aloha can even be a mother protecting a child.

Many words in the Hawaiian language has multiple meanings, Aloha can mean hello, goodbye and love.

Yes, yes, yes, I didn't even touch on this aspect myself. Teaching my daughter than when we go hiking or to the beach that we leave with everything we brought, plus any trash we come across, using organic gardening practices, recycling and trying to reduce our generated waste as a family.
Respecting the Aina as HBH mentions is another way To practice Aloha.

[hotzcatz]

Respect of all kinds is aloha.

We've moved to Honokaa town now, so it's "town rules" and we don't stand in the road when chatting with the neighbors anymore like we did before. At our old house, we could stand in the road and chat and if a car came by, more than likely they'd stop and chat, too. Town, though, folks don't stand in the road and chat. But, there's main street for wandering around and visiting with neighbors, so it's all good.

[ScottStielow]

Found this article. It Explains the aloha spirit better than i can.
Hawaiians are the most content people in the country. What can the rest of us learn from them?
Aloha Secrets - Sunset

[MauiPartTimer]

As in the some of the previous comments, it's the little things
- Only using the car horn to get the attention of a friend so you give them a shaka \m/
- Picking up garbage on the beach or streets
- Smiling and greeting strangers as if you know them
- Sharing