Maui - Island off the Map
posted 2003-05-27
Latitude North 21:00:49
Longitude West 156:38:16
Someone sings. A party. An afternoon. A Maui afternoon.
ALOHA
"And wherever (the native Hawaiian) went he said "Aloha" in meeting or in parting. "Aloha" was recognition of life in another. If there was life there was Mana, goodness and wisdom, and if there was goodness and wisdom, there was a god-quality."
"One had to recognize the "god of life" in another before saying "Aloha" but this was easy. Life was everywhere - - in the trees, the flowers, the ocean, the fish, the birds, the Pili grass, the rainbow, the rock - - in all the world of life - - was god - - was Aloha. Aloha in its gaiety, joy, happiness, abundance."
"Because of Aloha, one gave without thought of return: because of Aloha, one had Mana. Aloha had its own Mana. It never left the giver but flowed freely and continuously between giver and receiver."
"Aloha could not be thoughtlessly or indiscriminately spoken, for it carried its own power. No Hawaiian could greet another with "Aloha" unless he felt it in his own heart. If he felt anger or hate in his heart he had to cleanse himself before he said "Aloha."
by Helena G. Allen, The Betrayal of Liliuokalani, Last Queen of Hawaii, 1838-1917
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