Love Island(s) of Hawai’i
Aloha! Hello and I love you.
Aloha is Love, and Love is Love
Many cities are celebrating their annual Pride. Hawai’i Pride events are typically in October. But, Hawaii Island LGBTQ Pride’s “50 and Fierce” parade and festival honor the 50th anniversary of Stonewall this Saturday.
Pre-colonial Hawaiian culture is all about Aloha. From loving the earth and nature, to love of all kinds. Before Christianity and western influence, non-binary gender identity and lover were part of ancient Hawaiian culture for centuries.
Aikāne, homosexual or bisexual relationships, were traditional and acceptable, even among chiefs.
Māhū, meaning “in the middle,” are non-binary people with revered spiritual and social roles, often the historical keepers of the cultural traditions.
Check out the 2014 documentary Kumu Hina
Aloha Spirit: Here, You’re Family
Aloha has many meanings and ‘ohana, means family. This includes your blood-related family, hānai, the cultural practice of adopting children, and any close friends who become family. Today, you hear people calling their friends “cousin.”
Additionally, Aloha Spirit became an official law in 1986.
[§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. In the contemplation and presence of the life force, “Aloha”, the following unuhi laula loa may be used:
“Akahai”, meaning kindness to be expressed with tenderness;
“Lokahi”, meaning unity, to be expressed with harmony;
“Oluolu”, meaning agreeable, to be expressed with pleasantness;
“Haahaa”, meaning humility, to be expressed with modesty;
“Ahonui”, meaning patience, to be expressed with perseverance.
Also check out this NYT OpEd by Moises Velasquez-Manoff, “Want to Be Less Racist? Move to Hawaii”
Love Island(s)
Did you know a popular UK reality show, Love Island, is crossing the pond? Turns out it’s not about loving Hawaii (nor is it for families). Well, you don’t need a reality show to help you love the Hawaiian Islands; they will enchant you.
Lava Love
You’ll love the Disney Pixar Short “Lava”
Do You Believe in Magic?
Hawaii is love at first sight. The waterfalls, rainforests, and black sand beaches—it could only be magic. Speaking of love and magic, Hawaiian legends say that the Menehune built many sacred locations throughout the islands.
Who are the Menehune? Master craftsmen, lovers of bananas, and miniature people. The Menehune are so small they can fit in the palm of your hand!
Learn more about the Menehune and the Magic of Hawai’i in our retelling of the Legend of Menehune Fish Pond.
Aloha, ‘ohana.
(FYI, it also means, goodbye)
