Hawaiian Expressions by Auli'i

Iune (June) Word of the Month: "Ho'omaika'i"

For the word of the month, I've chosen Ho'omaika'i; appreciation, . With appreciation, it can make a day or even change a life! As our value of guidance, ho'omaika'i teaches us that our purpose in life is to 'imi ola, to seek life at its highest possible form. In order to do so, having appreciation is one of the many key factors to being successful in life. Being aware of your countless blessings and  being grateful for them can have such a huge impact on the quality of your life. Take the time to appreciate your surroundings and all that you do!

Hawaiian Expressions by Auli'i

Nowempa (November) Word of the Month: “Mahalo”

Mahalo expresses gratitude and is used to say thank you. As a value, mahalo includes thankfulness and appreciation, a way of living. I’ve also learnt a deeper layer to the meaning of Mahalo.  

Ma – at, in, on, beside

Ha – life, breath

Alo – sharing in the presence

“In the presence of the divine”

As you go through your day, speak of your appreciation often and give thanks for what you have. Happy Holidays!

Hawaiian Epressions by Auli'i

‘Okakopa (October) Word of the Month: Lānui

Besides recognizing U.S. National lānui, meaning holidays, I would like to share a few we celebrate in the islands.   

Here in Hawai’i, we observe three unique lānui,  holiday's, connected to the Hawaiian Culture. Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole Day, commonly referred to as “Kuhio Day” is a holiday which was established in the late 1940’s. This holiday honors Prince Kuhio’s birthday. King Kamehameha I Day, also known as “Kamehameha Day”, took establishment back in the 1870’s in honor of King Kamehameha the First. It is the only holiday that was established by royal proclamation that is officially observed by the state of Hawai’i. Lastly, we have Admissions Day or “Statehood Day”. This holiday is observed every third Friday in ‘Aukake, August, to celebrate Hawai’i becoming the 50^th state of America. 

Hau'oli Lānui!

(Happy Holiday's)

Hawaiian Expressions by Auli'i

Kepakemapa (September) Word of the Month: "Ha'aha'a"

Be humble, be modest, and open to your thoughts. Ha’aha’a, meaning humble, is the value of humility. Humility teaches us to groom our own character in respect for others. Practicing ha’aha’a, we want to be open-minded; for that is how we will open up our own palena ‘ole, unsurpassed knowledge, for greater learning abundance. Happily embrace your blunders, mistakes, and missteps. Within our acceptance, we can’t worry about what distresses us. We hō’imi,  seek for better and for the best.

Hawaiian Expressions by Auli'i

‘Aukake (August) ‘Ōlelo No’eau “Wise Proverb”

Kūlia i ka nu’u 
"Strive to reach the summit"

Pursuing personal excellence in all you do is a great value of achievement. Our purpose in life is to seek its highest form. With achievement, it builds our character and motivates us to succeed. Being a competitive hula dancer, I’ve learned to ho’omau, meaning to persist, never give up. It has taught me the value of perseverance whether I have succeeded or not. My humbling experiences gave me an opportunity to learn and grow as an individual.

As you go through your day, define what achievement is for you, and strive for the highest summit there is!

Hawaiian Expressions by Auli'i

Iulai (July) ‘Ōlelo No’eau “Wise Proverb”

 I would like to share an ‘Ōlelo No’eau, a wise proverb, for the month of Iulai, July.

‘A’ohe hana nui ke alu ‘ia

"No task is too big when shared by all"

This ‘Ōlelo No’eau can apply to us in many ways such as work,  sports, school, and even at home. It reminds me of team work and the idea of laulima, which translates to “cooperation”. Laulima literally means “many hands”. When there are many hands working together in harmony and unity, any task becomes much easier.  When facing a challenge that is too big to handle on your own, consider including others to help you lighten the load.