The Spirit of Aloha, Hawaii

Lately, I went to see the movie „Lilo & Stitch”. It was very special to me as it was set in Hawaii with a unique cultural setting, and featuring some songs of Elvis Presley. What really touched my heart was the cultural concept of Aloha Spirit, Hula Dance, respect for nature, and the most important in Hawaian culture, ‘ohana. Everybody can identify with those universal values.

Hawaian culture is the richest, and deeply rooted traditions in the world.

Join me in this month’s newsletter to discover some of the most amazing aspects of this unique culture that continues to inspire the world.

Aloha Spirit

This concept goes beyond just a simple greeting. This philosophy conveys love, compassion, respect and harmony with others and the natural world. It is a way of life that values connection over conflict.

Hula Dance

Hula Dance is not just another dance. It is sacred storytelling tradition. Through graceful movements, chants and music they tell the stories of ancestors, gods, nature and simple daily life. The main Hula dances are Hula Kahiko, which is more ancient dance accompanied by traditional chants and instruments. Then, there is a more modern version of Hula, Hula ‘Ahuana, which is set to melodic music with Western influences.

Respect Nature

Hawaiians believe that we are all connected, not only with others but also with gods, spirits, and nature. The land, the ocean, and sky are not just resources, they are ancestors and spiritual entities. This way of thinking results in protecting and advocating for the environment.

Ohana and Community

In Hawaiian culture ‘ohana means family. This concept is much wider than our family connection by blood. It is also close friends’ connection. It means support, loyalty, and love within families and communities. Elders, called kupuna in Hawaiian, are highly respected for their wisdom and life experience.

The Gods

The Hawaiian mythology is rich with deities like Pele, the goddess of volcanoes, or Kanaloa, the god of the ocean. These gods are tied closely to natural forces and honoured through stories, chants, and rituals.

Vocabulary

touch somebody’s heart – to make a person emotional (wzruszyć)

values – a person’s principles or standards of behaviour (wartości)

rooted – established deeply and firmly (zakorzenione)

compassion – sympathetic pitty and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others (współczucie)

influences – the power to have an important effect on someone or something (wpływy)

spiritual entity – a non-physical being that is often associated with spirituality, religion or supernatural beliefs. It is a concept that exists outside of the material world (istota duchowa)

advocating – supporting and promoting the interests of a person, group, or cause (popieranie)

chants – a repeated rythmic phrase, typically one shouted or sung in unison by a crowd (intonować pieśń)