A LO HA!

Hula kahiko performance at the pa hula in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park - Photo by Ron Ardis

As you may know this word has multiple meanings hello, goodbye, i love you…. I was once  told the true meaning by an old hawaiian medicine man.

In the original Hawaiian language each “word” may be a combination of ideas or root words. he said aloha means A = I, LO = give you HA= breath, like as in if you were drowning i would save you and give you mouth to mouth.

This connotates a deep respect for someone that you watch out for them, and if they are drowning (figuratively or literally) and reach out your hand to save them.

Others have said “Alo means to share in the present moment. Oha is joy. Ha is life energy Therefore Aloha translates to meaning “The joyful sharing of life energy in the present” or “joyfully sharing life.”  Viewed another way, Aloha means living in harmony.

I feel that it can really mean either depending on the circumstance. By bringing more positive energy and respect in my daily actions I plan to bring more joyful sharing of life energy into my life. Through thoughtful understanding and respect I want to show my friends more aloha.