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What I saw during the two weeks of my vacation in Hawaii was incredible. Beauty. Elegance. Energy. And that’s just day one. As I looked out at the ocean, I saw a million sparkles under the sun. They reminded me of a million possibilities on the horizon.
On the evening I arrived on the island of Maui, the Hawaiian sun radiated a crimson glow, spectacular and optimistic. It seemed to have the power to make the ragged world smooth all over. I wanted for hours to gaze at the sunset and could not wait to get up very early the next morning to admire the sunrise. To witness nature reveal its deepest mysteries in the glorious sunlight was a joy I will always cherish. I feel that it is the sun that connects us to life’s vibrant pulses.
The islands of Hawaii share a great deal, but each island has a personality of its own. For this trip, I didn’t just set out to see a new world through the roaring waves around the islands of Hawaii. I also listened, with my ears, with my heart, and with my mind.
The first few people I met after arriving in Hawaii all said “Aloha” with a genuine smile and extended their hands toward mine. For a brief moment, I felt the secure embrace of community in a faraway place. “Aloha” in the Hawaiian language can mean hello or goodbye. It also means affection and kindness.
Because of aloha’s special meaning, the nickname for Hawaii is “the Aloha State.” The literal meaning of “aloha” actually means “the breath of life.” It encourages people to live the spirit of aloha. When I was in Hawaii, I was treated with aloha everywhere I went.
The ancient history of Hawaii dates back at least a thousand years before the 13 American colonies formed a nation in 1776. That was the time when the Polynesian people set foot on these then uninhabited islands.
However, modern Hawaiian history began in 1778 when Captain James Cook’s expedition first made contact with the Hawaiian people. Hawaii was admitted into the union in 1959 as the 50th state.
A lei of flowers are a symbol of love. The Hawaiian lei is a garland made of flowers, historically a part of Hawaii’s romantic culture. Hula dance uses the body to communicate the language of the heart. It is the heartbeat of the Hawaiian people. The music of Hawaii added another laid-back element to my visit.
One night when I was at a luau, I noticed the natives were all yelling the same words to the dancers. I asked one of the Hawaiians about it. He enthusiastically replied, “They are saying ‘Dare to dance! Leave shame at home!’” I would like to keep throughout my life that sweetest of all hungers – my curiosity – and embrace the spirit of aloha, then pass it on to my friends and family.
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