Sofia Perez

Now at the midpoint of my month-long dabble with Hawaiian, several delicate linguistic idiosyncrasies have come to my attention. Firstly there are the grammatical differences between a Polynesian language and a eurocentric one, from the way verbs wrap around nouns to the way letters- many of which are vowels- interact with each other when spoken. There is the thirteen-letter alphabet, only implemented within approximately the last two centuries when missionaries arrived on Hawaii in 1820. Then there is the allure of untranslatable words like aloha and o’hana, which have taken huge efforts to communicate to non-Hawaiians. However on a level that sits above all this, there is the culture that has both shaped and been shaped by this thirteen-letter language: the spirit, the rituals, the connection to life. 

What Aloha Really Means

Most people know aloha to mean “hello” in Hawaiian, and while it is indeed a greeting, the depth of its meaning stretches much further. Its meaning stretches so far, in fact, that there is no English equivalent. On a literal level, it means “the presence of breath” or “the breath of life”, rooted in the word alo, meaning “presence”, and ha, meaning “breath”. If you were to nonetheless try to translate it, the overall definition would be something like “compassion”, “affection”, or “peace”. 

Yet another reason why aloha is untranslatable is likely because it is more than just a label for behaviors. In reality, it is embodied in a way of living. In the words of the Hawaiian chef and author of Practice Aloha: Secrets to Living Life Hawaiian Style: Stories, Recipes and Lyrics from Hawaii’s Favorite Folks, Mark Ellman, “Aloha is compassion, love, light, harmony, peace and joy, all rolled into one. Aloha is choosing love in every moment, showing up and being lovingly present no matter what it looks like on the inner or outer.” 

“Aloha is compassion, love, light, harmony, peace and joy, all rolled into one. Aloha is choosing love in every moment, showing up and being lovingly present no matter what it looks like on the inner or outer.”

Mark Ellman, Hawaiian chef and author

Aloha is choosing love in every moment. Ellman’s words have a way of echoing in the mind. In such a way, a semantic matter becomes a philosophical one. What is it like to choose love in every moment, in every action, in every thought? What is love like in its purest, most unadulterated form? What are the characteristics of aloha that create the inner peace we’re all looking for?

I pose these questions not in order to answer them, but in order to place them solidly in your mind, dear reader. Ask these questions so that you can continue to ask them. Ask them until an answer comes to you, untranslatable in its own way.  

However there are some ways to implement aloha that are not as profoundly complex but will still strengthen a sense of community. In Hawaii, this might be sharing your shaka, a hand gesture commonly attributed to surfers, or enjoying big meals with the rest of your community. You can even spread some aloha by committing this attitude in your own life. Take some time to enjoy nature. Take a moment to really thank someone and tell them how much you appreciate them. Be generous with your gifts and talents. Share what you have. Click here to read more about the values of aloha as well as some proverbs, quotes, and other forms of wisdom.

O’hana Means Family 

www.youtube.com. (2013). Clip from Lilo and Stitch, Ohana means family… [online] Available at: https://youtu.be/U37cChUfHk0 [Accessed 28 Jun. 2022].

In a strict sense, o’hana is the name for a part of the taro plant, the ‘oha-ana. ‘Ohā refers to the shoot, which can be trimmed in order to grow a new plant. Ana means “regeneration”. With its lush and wide heart-shaped leaves, the taro plant provides the perfect basis for a metaphor that sits at the core of Hawaiian culture. The popular Disney film Lilo & Stitch also popularized o’hana in the famous lines, “O’hana means family. Family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten.” 

“O’hana means family. Family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten.”

-Disney’s Lilo & Stitch

To combine these images, both that of a taro plant and that of a tiny blue alien, we are left with several concepts and yet another untranslatable word: o’hana. It’s a word that indicates a kind of social support network, a security net of love, friendship, family ties, care, inclusion, forgiveness. As an outsider looking in, o’hana seems to be embodied in phrases like, “Have you eaten yet?”, “Why don’t you take a break?”, “I’m here for you”, “Let me take care of you.” It’s about compassion, forgiveness, and reliability. 

O’hana does not simply mean “family”. In truth, it transcends the bonds of blood. It is about connection, both to those you are biologically tethered to and those who are tethered to you by community and friendship. It is about both succumbing to and contributing to the secure net of love within your community. As far as I know, this is one of those words one can only hope to grasp by actually living it out. What does that look like? Taking care of the people around you and letting them take care of you. 

Ho’oponopono 

The word Ho’oponopono means to “cause things to move back in balance” or to “make things right”. In native Hawaiian, pono means balance, as it relates holistically to life. For that reason, the ancient Hawaiian teaching for forgiveness is called Ho’oponopono. This depiction of pre-forgiveness as a state of lacking balance is particularly striking to me as a non-native. Rather than view forgiveness as an act of compassion toward the other, an act of stepping beyond one’s selfishness, it is portrayed as a radical act of self-love. 

Another notable feature of this practice was its simplicity. The mantra, which goes I’m sorry, Forgive me, I love you, Thank you, is repeated over and over again as many times as you like. It soon penetrates your inner monologue, developing a greater sense of gratitude. Yet it is only nine words. Perhaps that is why it’s so powerful. 

I’m sorry. Forgive me. I love you. Thank you.

Ho’oponopono Prayer

This new mindset by which to view forgiveness was greatly comforting when I first sat down and closed my eyes. For about six minutes I was alone with these words, soaking in the depth of their meaning. I’m sorry, I said into the space around me, Forgive me. I love you. I’m grateful. There are several variations on the wording of the Ho’oponopono mantra, but the effect for me has been the same. 

Ultimately it is a comfort, and while I haven’t explored it fully, perhaps this is because to regain the pono, or balance of the mind, there is a form of surrender that has to happen first. I’m sorry, I would say, and in saying these words I would think, “I’m sorry for my vast emotional incompetence.”, “I’m sorry for my past mistakes.”, “I’m sorry for taking so much for granted.”, “I’m sorry for all that I don’t feel sorry for.”. Then I would say I love you and feel a rush of hope at the tender image of love pouring from my heart. Finally I would say I’m grateful, and even if my heart was skeptical that day, after a few cycles I would soon be convinced that Yes, I am grateful. I am very grateful indeed.

No such thing as “to be”

A particularly striking feature of the Hawaiian language for me was the fact that there is no verb “to be”. Think of an adjective, like the word “red” or “flat”. In English, the concept of “red” and the verb “to be red” are separate. One thing is to say “The red ball.” It is quite another to say “The ball is red.” However in Hawaiian, the verb “to be” is embedded in all descriptions, baked into their meaning from the onset. Because of this, the verb simply does not exist. 

This has led me to wonder about the way in which a language predominantly focused on actions interacts with one’s identity, particularly when actions are much more transient than the timelessness of a descriptor. When all is said and done, what are the psychological implications of speaking a language with such a dynamic sense of identity? Conversely, is the separation of descriptors and actions in English an unhealthy illusion? Are adjectives just a way to find security outside of time’s harsh reality? What defines you if your language only contains verbs and nouns? Once again I leave the unanswerability of these questions to you, dear reader, to wrestle with and decipher on your own. 

My Favorite Hawaiian Proverbs…So far

Hawaiian Proverb	English Translation	Origin
–	Love all you see, including yourself.	Kahuna Nui Hale Kealohalani Makua (High Priest Hale Kealohalani Makua)
Ua ola loko i ke aloha	Love gives life within.	–
A’a i ka hula, waiho i ka maka’u i ka hale	Dare to dance, leave shame at home.	–
He ‘olina leo ka ke aloha.	Joy is in the voice of love.	–
Oi kau ka lau, e hana I ola honua.	Live your life while the sun is still shining.	–

Click here for some more Hawaiian wisdom.

Hawaiian Language & Agriculture

On the whole, learning Hawaiian over the past few weeks has taught me several lessons about the importance of language, particularly the ways in which words influence lifestyle. These are, after all, tiny capsules of human thought being communicated over generations. In that sense, words carry significant power over the mind, both in the way we think and the way thought drives us to act. So what about agriculture? What is this tenuous link between food, nutrition, genetics and obscure Hawaiian grammar? 

The link, not at all tenuous in reality, is in how we relate to the environment around us. This includes the one we use to harvest food. As I’ve already established in my article Dirt, DNA, & Declarations of Rights: Why is food so tricky?, the relationship between how we harvest, cook, eat, and talk about our food requires some major rehabilitation. In my opinion, revitalizing dying languages offers a strong answer to the question because using different words and understanding new ideas encourages a complete shift in mindset. When daunting systemic problems arise, these kinds of big shifts are not only helpful, but vital. If we continue to think about problems like agriculture in the same old way, we will keep coming back to the same answers. 

Thought to Action 

• Listen to the Mana‘o podcast, available on Spotify
• Try the Ho’oponopono Mantra at home using this clip
• Live in the spirit of aloha by:
  • Spending time in nature
  • Greet the people in your life with love and positivity
  • Support local farmers & businesses
  • Watch the sunset
  • Learn how to show your shaka from pro surfers
• Listen to some of the following Hawaiian artists on a music-streaming app
  • Ledward Kaapaana
  • Willie K
  • Amy Hanaiali’i

Bibliography

Beauchemin, M. (2020). Understanding Ho’oponopono: A Beautiful Hawaiian Prayer for Forgiveness. [online] Grace & Lightness Magazine. Available at: https://graceandlightness.com/hooponopono-hawaiian-prayer-for-forgiveness/.

Dictionary.com. (n.d.). ohana. [online] Available at: https://www.dictionary.com/e/translations/ohana/.

Epic Hawaii Homes. (2018). How to Live Aloha. [online] Available at: https://epichawaiirealestate.com/2018/12/how-to-live-aloha/ [Accessed 20 Jun. 2022].

Garcia, M. (2022). What Does Aloha Mean? Facts About The Hawaiian Word. [online] Being Human. Available at: https://beinghuman.org/what-does-aloha-mean/ [Accessed 19 Jun. 2022].

hawaiianplanner.com. (n.d.). The Real Meaning of Ohana in Hawaiian Families. [online] Available at: https://hawaiianplanner.com/discover/information/details/the-real-meaning-of-ohana-in-hawaiian-families.

hawaiihistory.org. (2022). About the Hawaiian Language on this site. – Hawaii History – About HawaiiHistory.org. [online] Available at: http://hawaiihistory.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=ig.page&PageID=496.

Jenkins, J. (2020). 60+ Quotes About Hawaii & Proverbs From The Rainbow State. [online] Wanderers of the World. Available at: https://wandereroftheworld.co.uk/quotes-about-hawaii-and-proverbs/ [Accessed 20 Jun. 2022].

Live Aloha. (n.d.). What is Aloha? [online] Available at: http://www.livealoha.com/aloha-living/ [Accessed 19 Jun. 2022].

Maui Accommodations Guide. (2019). Ohana Means Family | All About Maui Blog. [online] Available at: https://www.mauiaccommodations.com/blog/ohana-means-family/.

Shofner, K. (n.d.). Some Little Known Facts About the Hawaiian Language. [online] www.unitedlanguagegroup.com. Available at: https://www.unitedlanguagegroup.com/blog/translation/little-known-facts-about-the-hawaiian-language.

Valley Isle Excursions. (2016). Hawaiian Quotes, Proverbs & Sayings From The Wise | Famous Quotes. [online] Available at: https://www.tourmaui.com/hawaiian-quotes-proverbs/#tips [Accessed 20 Jun. 2022].

www.goodreads.com. (n.d.). Aloha Quotes (15 quotes). [online] Available at: https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/aloha [Accessed 19 Jun. 2022].