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Aloha Spirit

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He ‘Olina Leo Ka Ke Aloha – Joy is in the voice of love.

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Hawaii, renowned for its breathtaking natural beauty, is also a melting pot that exemplifies cultural diversity. The aloha spirit, rooted in the ancient Hawaiian culture that has persisted for over a thousand years, remains a vibrant force.

Despite encountering challenges during the West’s contact, notably Captain Cook’s unfortunate behavior (he was eaten, sort of, for his troubles) and the plagues of measles, tuberculosis, syphilis, and smallpox his men brought with them, the resilient Hawaiian culture endured.

The missionaries came here to do good, and they did quite well indeed. They also imposed restrictions on Hawaiian traditions, prohibiting the hula and suppressing the native language. The introduction of new diseases significantly reduced the native Hawaiian population from a million in 1779 to a mere 45,000 in 1845. To compensate for the declining workforce, Hawai’i imported labor from various Pacific regions, shaping the diverse cultural mosaic that defines modern Hawai’i.

With only 7,000 pure-blooded Hawaiians remaining, the preservation of their race and culture becomes paramount. Today, more Hawaiians live outside of Hawai’i than in it. But over a quarter-million part-Hawaiians locally and half a million nationwide contribute to the continuation of Hawaiian heritage. The adversity faced by Hawaiians has fueled a collective determination to reclaim their political voice and safeguard native Hawaiian values, beliefs, and practices, which serve as the bedrock of the community and the enduring aloha spirit.

Anything goes here… in good directions.

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