Do you want to know how to stay calm in any situation? Have you ever had a bad day, where you feel down, but then you see someone you truly admire, and it turns that bad day right around? What is it about some people that changes the mood, the tone, and emotions of a circumstance? And how do some people have a “superpower” to help you regain focus on the things that matter most?
In Hawaii, there’s a word and a value that can help us be better as people, friends, and family members. It is one way we can show aloha to others.
‘Olu’olu.
‘Olu’olu Weather
What I love about the Hawaiian language is that one word is used for multiple purposes. The term ‘olu’olu is used to describe weather that is pleasant, refreshing, and mild. ‘Olu’olu is also used to describe someone who is friendly, happy, and gracious.
If you can imagine an ‘olu’olu kind of a day, what does that look like? We can learn so much from observing nature. I imagine a beautiful day as warm weather—not too hot, but not cold—with a gentle breeze. Hawaii has ‘olu’olu weather quite often.
Those who live in a spirit of ‘olu’olu are like nice weather: they’re not overbearing or too much. They know how to put out even the most heated arguments with tact and poise. They bring a refreshingly optimistic and hopeful attitude to any situation. Friendliness is a key trait. And they can make even the shyest person feel loved and welcome.
Can we each be a little more ‘olu’olu? In this article we’ll discuss how to be a more friendly and pleasant person. Because when we choose friendliness and kindness, we share aloha with the world.
The Woman Who Loved Everyone
I want to share about a recent experience that illustrates ‘olu’olu for me. She was the kind of person who taught me how to stay calm in any situation. My husband, baby, and I were on a 2-week trip in Nauvoo, Illinois for my husband’s work. During the winter months, Nauvoo is a ghost town, but there are old timers who live there.
I wish I could say I liked Nauvoo. It’s an interesting place with a lot of history. The view of the Mississippi river is absolutely gorgeous. The temple on the hill is quite beautiful.
But I didn’t like the place because of the people. When we attended the local church, the locals were older folks who either belittled us or acted as though they were entitled because of their age. In Hawaii, it’s important to respect your kupuna, but when you’re put down or bossed around because of your own young age, it’s really annoying. I thought it would get better but it didn’t… except for a few people.
The hosts of the inn we stayed at were truly some of the kindest, most generous people I’ve ever met. The wife’s name was Kristie and she was always so positive, generous, and friendly to everyone. She and her husband even invited us and the rest of the crew to their home to watch the Superbowl, where they fed us lots of food and showed us around. They didn’t even know us! As I watched this woman, I thought about the word ‘olu’olu.
It was absolutely refreshing to be around her. Her optimism, charisma, and pleasant nature were like a ray of sunshine in that old town. It dispelled the unpleasant taste that I got from the older folks who looked down at us. She was kind to everyone.
What I learned from her example
She didn’t judge.
She didn’t assume things.
This woman loved everyone and sought to be of service, instead of thinking about herself or her own comfort.
I am so grateful for her example and hope I can be more like her. Ever since the trip I’ve tried to be more optimistic and friendly with people, like those at check out lines. Even those at the airports, restaurants, and more that we’ve recently been at, I’ve tried to make more of an effort. Kristie’s refreshing kindness has a positive domino effect.
Is there someone in your life who is ‘olu’olu? What, about them, inspires you? How do they approach problems, situations, and relationships?
Do Good to Them That Hate You
One thing I learned from Kristie is that kindness helps everyone win. There were a few people at this event who were picky about the inn and food, but Kristie and her husband were always so professional, helpful, and—above all—kind.
It’s easy to want to defend ourselves when people blame us, get angry at us, or even hate us, but ‘olu’olu is about keeping calm, cool, and collected. It’s taking a higher road and turning the other cheek. ‘Olu’olu helps us do good to even those who hate us.
In Matthew 5:44, Jesus Christ invites us to “do good to them that hate you,” which seems backwards in our day. In our day, it’s a lot easier to backbite, gossip, and rant about things both in private and public, without regards to how the words or actions may hurt someone else.
But with ‘olu’olu, we refrain from participating in activities or things that degrade, harm, bully, or belittle others. Instead, we have compassion on others and turn the cheek to even those who hate us. This doesn’t mean we have to be best friends with those who are toxic, but we can still show kindness and courtesy.
Always Have Compassion
‘Olu’olu is much like manawale’a in that we should always give people the benefit of the doubt. We should always assume the best, because people really are good.
And beyond that, we should extend compassion.
When choosing a word for the year, my husband and I came up with “passion.” We wanted to have passion and drive for the work we’re doing. But as we’ve studied the word, we’ve found even more meaning.
“Compassion” means “with passion.” ‘Olu’olu invites us to always have compassion, which means to do things with passion. Two parables from the Bible can illustrate what compassion really looks like:
The Good Samaritan
Luke 10 tells the story of the Good Samaritan. This is a well known story where a man was traveling and was beaten and left for dead by thieves. A priest and other high ranking religious officials passed by the man. But the Samaritan, a man who was despised and discriminated against at the time, stopped to help.
Not only did the Samaritan tend to the man and his injuries, but he brought the man to an inn and paid enough for the man to stay there until he was well. Then he continued on his way, and the man who was injured probably never met the good Samaritan.
There are many people in our day and age who need help, who need compassion. Sometimes we might judge others and think, “Well, they brought this fate on his or her self.”
Maybe someone did make a choice that had negative consequences, but it’s not our place to judge. It’s our job to extend grace and compassion.
How often have we made a mistake and hoped that people would forgive us? That people wouldn’t judge but, instead, just love?
While it’s easy to think that others are the man who fell by the wayside, that man is all of us at some point or another.
If we want to be ‘olu’olu, we should seek to help and love, instead of ignore and judge.
The Prodigal Son
Luke 15 shares another well known parable of a father who had two sons. One asked for his inheritance then went and spent it on worldly pleasures. When that son was at his lowest point, he returned to his father’s house. The scriptures say that the father ran to his son, weeping and rejoicing that he had returned.
The compassion that the father showed exemplifies how we should receive others. We don’t have to cry and make a loud fanfare when others come to us for help or to change their ways, but we should be grateful and humbled to serve.
‘Olu’olu Suffers Long
1 Cor 13:4 talks about charity, and one attribute of charity is that it suffers long. This doesn’t mean that we should stay in abusive relationships or prolong pain caused by either ourselves or others. It means to have patience.
Ho’omanawanui, or ahonui, are the Hawaiian values about patience. Ho’omanawanui is to wait or get through a long time, or a long season. Patience is enduring well, whether for a few minutes or a few years.
‘Olu’olu encourages us to be patient, and to have more ho’omanawanui and ahonui. Instead of getting irritated or impatient with others or situations, we can choose to stay calm, extend grace, and have a cheerful attitude and countenance. Doesn’t that sound more refreshing than getting worked up?
When I think of ‘olu’olu, I think of the book called “You are Special,” where little dolls put stars or black dots on each other to reward or disdain each other. At some point in the book, the main character meets a doll who has no stars or black dots.
The reason is that nothing the others said or tried to do to her stuck, because she knew who she was, and that was enough.
We are like sponges, soaking in the judgments, praises, criticism, and comments from others. For many of us, hurtful words are so detrimental. But if we know who we are—who we truly are—what difference could it make for us? It could make a huge difference.
We wouldn’t let others negatively affect us, and we would treat others with kindness because we know who they really are too. As children of God, brothers and sisters, we can adopt and attitude of ‘olu’olu and be the kind of person that helps others see who they really are. We can help others focus on what matters most, and gain clarity and optimism.
Like the other Hawaiian values discussed on this blog, ‘olu’olu is an attitude. It’s choosing to see things with a bigger perspective and knowing that what we say, do, and how we act really makes a difference.
In Conclusion
I’m so grateful for the example of Kristie. She truly showed me the kind of person I want to be: pleasant, friendly, content. There is so much in this world to complain about, to view or be negative about, but with ‘olu’olu we can change that.
We can show a light to others, either about themselves or about the situation. We can help everyone feel welcomed and loved. Let’s be as refreshing as the perfect kind of weather.
I hope this article inspired you to be a little more ‘olu’olu in your life and interactions. As you take steps to have more compassion and be a little kinder, you will continue to share aloha with the world. Mahalo!
With aloha,
Leialoha
What are your thoughts?
Did you like this article? Is there someone in your life who is ‘olu’olu? What set them apart from others? Let us know in the comments, I always love hearing from you! Mahalo!
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Do you want to learn how to truly be generous? Manawale’a.
If you’ve been to Hawaii, did you feel a sense of generosity? Did it feel like there was an abundance… an abundance of love, kindness, mercy, and more?
Kindness and love, aloha, are the core of the Hawaiian culture. And generosity stems from aloha. In Hawaiian culture, it’s common to feed others who come to the house, to offer resources, or to even let someone merge in on a busy highway. This is generosity, showing a willingness to give more than is necessary or asked. Generosity is especially an important value in the Hawaiian culture.
Manawale’a is the Hawaiian word for “generosity,” and it is one way that we can show our aloha, love for others. Those who live in a spirit of manawale’a are generous, benevolent, and they give freely of their time, and resources. And beyond that, they give freely of love, forgiveness, and kindness in a world that is increasingly polarizing, critical, and unkind.
Manawale’a is literally a time of joy
When we break down the word, it looks like this:
Manawa – time, season, appointment
Le’a – joy
Quite literally, manawale’a means “time or season of joy.” How is generosity connected with a time of joy?
When we are generous, it is a joyful time. Have you ever served someone, only to find that you probably needed to serve more than they needed the service? Service fills our souls. Especially when we give with a willing heart, we fill the need that each of us has to love and be loved.
So how can we have seasons of joy, especially in times that we are struggling? Whether we’re struggling financially, physically, emotionally, or mentally, how can we create seasons or times of joy for ourselves and others? How can we be generous when we don’t “have enough?”
In this article we will explore manawale’a and how to be more generous, which means going against the grain of the natural man that is inclined to selfishness and pride.
Manawale’a is Charity
Charity is the pure love of Christ. It is aloha, loving without any conditions. When we choose generosity, we choose charity. The other way I want us to consider manawale’a is by donating to a charity. There are so many wonderful nonprofit organizations out there that are actually doing great work. Do we take the time to give? It’s easy to think that others are out there giving, so we don’t have to contribute.
But contrary to what people think, you can make a difference. Your generosity can change someone’s life for the better. Even if you never find out what exact difference you’re making, your generosity can bless someone who doesn’t have what you have.
A Recent Example
As an example, recently my husband and I have been wanting to do something more to help the O.U.R. (Operation Underground Railroad). They are an organization that finds and frees children from trafficking. When we first found out about this, we knew this was something we had to do. Child slavery—especially child sex slavery—is something we just cannot ignore.
But how could we do something, beyond giving a monthly donation or spreading the word, like how I’m doing in this article? Could we, possibly, leverage our skills to do more?
With that said, my husband and I are going to put together a fundraising obstacle course. We are in the process of finding sponsors to contribute funds for each of the obstacles, which my husband will build. We’ll leverage my skills in marketing, writing, and graphic design to get the word out. And then we’ll leverage our combined skills with our YouTube (Kanani Life) to spread the message about O.U.R.’s amazing work.
What if?
To say we are a little daunted by the work ahead is an understatement. There are so many questions and “what if’s” in our minds: What if people don’t want to help? What if nobody shows up? What if???
But then we think about who we are helping and why we want to do this. We feel so much charity and love for these children we’ve never met, but who are enduring agonizing, depraving, and the lowest of evils. And we are doing it for them. This is manawale’a.
When we commit to manawale’a, we expand our horizons and come up with creative ways to be generous. We aren’t content with saying, “Well I don’t have the means to donate” or “What difference would I make?” Instead, we ask, “What can I do? How can I help?”
If we truly want to become more generous, we have to be generous with ourselves. We have to adopt an abundance mindset so that the work we do will help and have an impact on others.
Then we have to believe in our vision, and know that generosity inspires everyone, and we’ll all rise and lift each other to truly help those in need.
Manawale’a doesn’t seek to be known
Generosity is best when it’s done from the heart. It’s easy to do things to get credit or accolades. In some church and family cultures, generosity might even be an “all show” thing. A person might give because they’re being watched by others.
Everyone wants credit, but true generosity is usually unknown to others… except God.
In the scriptures, we’re told to “do not alms before men” but to do good in secret, so that God the Father, who sees in secret, can reward us openly (Matthew 6:1). Have you ever felt good about doing service for someone, but nobody else knew about it?
Generosity doesn’t have bells and whistles each time it’s performed. Instead, it’s the quiet and small acts that we do that make all the difference.
I remember growing up on the Big Island of Hawaii and having lots of aunts (who weren’t related by blood) in my church who truly looked out for me. When I served an 18-month church mission in the Philippines, there was one aunt who sent me Big Island Candies around Christmas and Easter time. This meant the world to me. And the thing was… nobody knew she sent those chocolates. But it was her quiet and generous example that has inspired me to do the same… sending notes to people, PMs of encouragement, letters of congratulations, or even dropping food off at someone’s house. With manawale’a, the beneficiaries of our generosity don’t need to know that it’s us…. because when we serve, it’s out of love for God and our fellow men. And that, in itself, is an honor.
Be generous with others
If you’ve read my book, Aloha State of Mind, you know that growing up in Hawaii wasn’t all paradise. My family was really poor and emotionally and mentally, I was not in a good place. However, I decided to ho’omau, keep going, because things always get better. And they did.
But it was through other people and their generosity that gave me glimmers of hope.
As I was preparing for an 18-month church mission, I budgeted very strictly so I could provide for myself during and after the mission. There was a kind lady at my church who picked me up from my house and took me shopping to get supplies for the mission. We got everything I needed, from a suitcase and bedding, to toiletries and clothes. I am eternally grateful for angels on earth, who were so generous with me. Her example, and many other examples, continue to inspire me to this day.
Can you think of a time someone was generous with you, and how that affected your life? Didn’t that bring you joy?
God is generous
Something I truly believe is that when you are generous with others, God is generous with you. We read in the scriptures, time and again, how God wants to “open the windows of heaven” and pour out blessings that we won’t have room enough to receive it if we obey his commandments, if we give of ourselves to God and to others, if we truly love our neighbors as ourselves.
In James 1:4 it says that if we lack wisdom, we can ask God and he gives “liberally.” Doing something liberally means giving, using, or doing something in a generous amount. God gives liberally, even when we give him just a little.
If God gives liberally, can we do that for others? Or even ourselves?
There have been many instances in my life where I saw someone in need and thought twice about helping.
Are they really in need?
However, the times I did stop to help have changed me. It’s easy to think sometimes, “Well they did this to themselves.” Maybe a person did bring a burden on themselves, but it’s not our job to judge. It’s our job to love.
Isn’t that what aloha is? When we give generously to others, God gives generously to us, and this includes forgiveness, hope, and peace.
And this leads to the next point…
Give freely
This doesn’t mean just giving of your resources, but we can all do better at giving freely of time, forgiveness, kindness, and compassion.
Luke 23:34 talks about how Jesus, while on the cross, and being in extreme pain, forgave those who tormented him. He asked God the Father to forgive them too! What a perfect example of forgiveness. We are to forgive our loved ones, our enemies, and even those who sinned against us out of ignorance.
That means forgiving the person who rudely cut you off on the road, or the cashier who gave you an attitude, or the person who commented unkindly on your post. As I once wrote in Aloha State of Mind and the value of ha’aha’a, humility, we are not above anyone else.
So let’s give freely of forgiveness.
Social media and forgiveness
I want to share a personal example of this. Recently I felt as though I was being bullied on social media. As an author and creator who puts their work out into the world, this is expected. However, the unkindness came from other authors, and that was very hurtful for me. My first instinct was to let it go. This was the second time something like this had happened in this particular author group, and I didn’t want to stir the pot.
The second thing was a rush of emotions: anger, sadness, disappointment. I vented to a friend who validated my feelings and encouraged me to say something.
But I didn’t want to say something without first working through my emotions. Sometimes, on social media, it’s hard to read what people are saying, and I wanted to give people the benefit of the doubt.
That was probably one of the biggest lessons I learned in this: give people the benefit of the doubt. Assume that people are good.
It’s easy to think that everyone is out to get you, but people are good in general. I forgave all the people who participated in this post, and then I posted about my feelings and asked for professionalism and kindness going forward. Everyone was really nice, understanding, apologetic, and professional. I’m so grateful for forgiveness, and grateful that it’s something we can give freely.
I italicize “can” because not many people want to do it. It’s easier to stew, backbite, gossip, and wallow in self pity. But Jesus taught us the way: forgive.
Can we give freely of forgiveness so that we can live manawale’a and have more seasons of joy in our lives?
Manawale’a: a season of joy
As we give of ourselves, time, resources, and talents freely to others, we truly can become a source of hope and aloha. We can live in and create more seasons of joy for ourselves and others.
With manawale’a we give our lives purpose. So many people don’t know why they’re here or how they can get satisfaction out of life. It’s easy to go through the daily grind, thinking “I’m just one person, so what can I do?” But every person can make a difference. It just takes one step, one donation, one thought… generosity and benevolence is closer than we think.
As we live more with manawale’a, we can experience seasons of joy throughout our entire lives, and that truly makes all the difference.
I hope this article inspired you to be a little more generous with your thoughts, actions, words, talents, skills and resources.
🌺 With aloha always,
Lei
Did you enjoy this article?
What did you think? Was there something you were inspired or felt pressed to do because of this article? What does living with manawale’a look like for you? Let me know in the comments below. 🙂 Comments and word of mouth help me get my writing and work out to more people. Mahalo!
Iesu pū. This is the Hawaiian phrase meaning, “Jesus be with you.” How can we live so Jesus Christ is with us, and his light and love shines through us? As we invite Jesus Christ into our lives, we can have peace. Everything works out, because of Him. With Iesu pū, we remember Christ in all we do. We bless our lives and others through devoted discipleship.
“Iesu pū” was more commonly used by the islanders of Ni’ihau, according to one kumu, but we can each use it today.
To better understand Iesu pū, it’s important to look back at the history of Hawaii. When did Christian missionaries first come? And why? What inspired missionaries to travel all the way to Hawaii to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ? And how did Christianity influence the people of Hawaii?
The Introduction of Christianity in Hawaii
The ancient Hawaiians practiced a polytheistic religion, where gods and goddesses, as well as a strict kapu system, dictated everyday life. In 1820, however, Protestant missionaries arrived and brought the light of Jesus Christ. Not only did they bring the joy of the Gospel, but they were instrumental in teaching English and creating a written Hawaiian language. Many Hawaiians converted to Christianity, and the phrase “Iesu pū” was born.
Image from Wikipedia
A young man named Henry Opukahaia, the first Hawaiian Christian, is to be thanked for inspiring missionaries to travel to Hawaii.
Henry Opukahaia’s story
I personally find Henry’s story incredibly inspiring. His an example of how Jesus Christ can bring peace to our lives. From Henry’s memoir, I learned that Henry lived during a time of tribal warfare. A kumu (teacher) in the past said that this warfare was due to King Kamehameha the Great (the first) conquering the islands.
When Henry’s village lost the battle against the warring tribe, Henry, his parents, and infant brother, fled to safety. They hid in a cave for several days, and finally left to obtain water. The enemy ambushed them at the river.
Henry, only ten at the time, witnessed his parents murder, their bodies mutilated by the bayonets of the enemy. Henry placed his infant brother—not older than two or three months old—on his back and fled. He was pursued and a spear struck his brother, killing him. Henry was captured and forced to live with the family of the man who killed his parents.
Later, he crossed paths with his uncle, a kahuna (priest), who took Henry in and began raising and teaching him in the ways of a kahuna. Henry notes in his memoir that he had no desire to become a priest. The words of his memoir reflect how traumatized Henry was from his experiences. Henry stated that he had no desire to stay in Hawaii and felt deeply lonely, saying that he pitied himself as an orphan and missed his parents.
God doesn’t forget His children
God certainly had a plan for Henry. In one incidence, he and his aunt—someone he must have felt was his last family, besides his uncle—were captured by another warring tribe. They were locked in a cellar and Henry found a hole to escape. But he, again, witnessed the death of his aunt as the enemy threw her over the edge of a cliff. In a moment of desperation—possibly one of Henry’s lowest moments, he ran to the cliff to join her in death. But he was caught and his life continued.
At the age of sixteen, he swam out and boarded a ship in Hilo bay. He spent the night aboard speaking to the captain, wanting to leave with the ship. Henry said the captain was one of the kindest people he met. His uncle wouldn’t let Henry leave Hawaii, but Henry’s persistence—including swimming out to the ship the following day—won him his freedom. Henry joined the trading ship and eventually ended up in Connecticut.
Henry had no desire to return to Hawaii, even when presented with the offer. But he had a deep hunger to learn, and many noted how bright and intelligent he seemed, despite his inability to speak English yet. A scholar at Yale noticed Henry crying on the steps of one of the university buildings and asked what was wrong. Henry said that nobody would teach him English, and this scholar took Henry under his own wings, teaching him English.
Henry finds the light of Jesus Christ
Through a series of events—including crossing paths with many intelligent and religious people—Henry learned about God, heaven, and hell. He worried about his eternal salvation and would ask many people what to do to be saved. That was when the light of Christ entered Henry’s life.
After he learned about Jesus Christ through a Protestant leader, Henry deeply desired to return to Hawaii and spread the Gospel. He attended a missionary school and was admired by many of his teachers and fellow scholars. Henry translated the book of Genesis into Hawaiian, and wrote his memoir. At the young age of 26, however, Opukahaia caught an illness and passed away, never returning to Hawaii again.
He was buried in Connecticut, and the story could have ended there. But Opukahaia’s influence and love for Christ had impacted his fellow scholars and people around him. His memoir was published in a pamphlet and distributed to thousands of people across the United States. People were deeply moved by Henry’s story and especially his love for the Savior, the love that brought peace to a soul so pained and depressed from a life of hardships and trauma.
While many missionaries hadn’t gone abroad (as Hawaii was not a part of the United States at the time), Opukahaia’s memoir inspired people to travel across the ocean to preach the Gospel.
When missionaries arrived in Hawaii in 1820, the people were ready to hear about Jesus Christ. The centuries old kapu system had ended, due to King Kamehameha II (King Liholiho) and Queen Ka’ahumanu (the wife of King Kamehameha I). The people found themselves void of any religion and were ready to hear the word of God.
What we can learn from Henry Opukahaia
Iesu pu. Jesus Christ changed Henry’s life forever. His journey to finding the Savior shows us that God is mindful of all of us. Opukahaia had such a difficult life, yet found hope and peace, the greatest blessings he could have, before his early death. The love of Christ inspired Henry, who never wanted to return to Hawaii, to want to share the peace and hope he found with other Hawaiians.
We also learn that when we are devoted to Christ, we can inspire others to share their faith. Henry’s memoirs, distributed after his death, were pivotal to push Christian missions across the Pacific Ocean to Hawaii. If not for Opukahaia, it may have been a while before Christian missionaries came to Hawaii.
God knows what He is doing, and we can trust that He is mindful of us too. He provides a way for us to find the healing power of Jesus Christ, even when we don’t believe or are aware of it. Opukahaia truly had the love and light of Jesus Christ with him, and his example can inspire us to live “Iesu pu.”
Please feel free to share this as much as you’d like on social media or other forms of communication! 🙂
Jesus Christ is the reason for the season
I’m writing this article in the month of December, a time we celebrate Christmas. The birth of Jesus Christ is the reason for the season. It’s crazy how far our world has come from celebrating our Savior.
Instead of “Christmas,” many opt to saying X-mas. Instead of saying “Merry Christmas,” some people opt to say “Happy Holidays.” It’s really sad that the reason for the joyous season is being erased and silenced. Remember that Lucifer was disguised as an “angel of light.” Let’s not be deceived by the world, telling us to silence the true reason for our happiness and peace.
When we think of “Iesu pu,” it’s about having Jesus Christ with us always, including remembering Him always. And especially during a season that people get caught up in the “holiday rush,” it’s even more important to seek Him in all we do.
The Christmas spirit is also all about believing. It’s a wonderful time to reflect on the year and choose to believe that there’s good in the world like hope, love, compassion, forgiveness, and a chance to start new. All of it is possible because of Jesus Christ. Remember that with Jesus Christ, we can do all things (Philippians 4:13).
Watch “The Christ Child” to “Iesu pu” and get into the true Christmas spirit:
Jesus Christ makes us new
We don’t have to be the same person for the rest of our lives. We can start new.
With Jesus Christ, peace replaces guilt. Happiness replaces sorrow. Forgiveness replaces hurt.
When we live “Iesu pu,” we can become new creatures. There are so many examples–both in scripture and modern day–of people who changed their lives because of Jesus Christ. Even in today’s time we can find strong disciples of Jesus Christ.
Jonathon Isaac is an example of someone who is standing up for Jesus Christ. His faith in the Lord is easy to see, and it’s inspiring. None of us are ever too rich, poor, famous, or anything to share our love and testimony of Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ gives us reason to hope
Image from Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Have you ever hit a low point where you wonder what’s the point of anything? What’s the point of trying–in relationships, creative endeavors, life in general, etc?
Do we really have some purpose here? Does anything matter?
The answer is yes, and it’s because of Jesus Christ. Because of Him we have reason to hope.
It seems like every time we, as humans, hit hard and challenging times we may think it’s a punishment, or that we’re unworthy. We might think that everything is against us. But that’s simply not true.
Because of Jesus Christ, we know that there’s a way to feel peace in any of life’s storms. His atoning sacrifice makes it possible for us to repent and change our path. He also felt everything that we felt, so we can take comfort that even if nobody else understands, he understands completely and perfectly.
Hope also stems from knowing that we’re not alone. Discipleship and living faithfully isn’t easy. But it’s worth it. With Jesus Christ, we know we’re never alone.
Christ even tells to “be of good cheer.” Our Savior has already overcome the world, so let’s have faith in and trust that we can find peace and happiness in Him.
Check out this inspirational video about how Jesus Christ can help us:
Jesus is the light of the world
He ko’u kukui i ka Haku – The Lord is my light.
If you feel like you’re in a dark place, you can always turn to the Savior of the world. He is the light of the world. He is our light.
With “Iesu pu,” we can always have light, hope, and peace, even in our darkest moments.
Learning to believe again
Through this blog, social media, and my books, I’ve been humbled by the people who reach out saying that they’re grateful for the exploration of the Hawaiian culture while incorporating Christian values.
Of course there have also been those who told me that my work is “too religious” and that the Christian viewpoints are “too much.”
But for us Christians, we should never get discouraged. We should keep believing, and keep having faith because Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the light. When His light and goodness fill our lives, it doesn’t matter what other people say to or of us. It can still hurt when people say unkind things to us or try to question our faith. But we can feel confident that Jesus Christ understands and loves us, and that because of Him, anything is possible.
If you’ve lost your belief in Jesus Christ as your Savior, friend, help, and confidante, it’s never too late to turn back to Him. Nobody is ever too far or too lost to be found by Jesus Christ.
In Matthew 11, He tells us how we can come to him and find rest.
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest .
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart : and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light
For those of you who have reached out to me asking how to improve mental health, to find peace, to be happy again… Jesus Christ is the answer. Trust and have faith in Him, and, like Opukahaia and millions of other Christians, you can find the peace and hope you’re searching for.
A personal experience
My life has been blessed by wonderful Christians from various faiths. I’ve grown up in different places around the world, and I’m so grateful for the wonderful, faithful Christians I’ve met throughout life. The example that others have set for me, of praising and worshipping the Lord, have influenced me for good.
I’m also a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The gospel taught to me within the church has blessed my life forever. Jesus Christ truly is our hope. He gives us strength and peace in any life circumstance. My church community has taught and inspired me to live the Gospel faithfully. People of other faiths–my friends and acquaintances at school and in the community–have also played a role in strengthening my character to become more like Jesus Christ.
Recently I’ve been inspired by people who unapologetically share their faith. I make an effort to follow people who I admire on social media, and this usually results in people from different faiths. As the media works to erase Christianity, the acknowledgement of God, and religion, it can be disheartening for us Christians. It can also make it scary to post things on social media, for fear that others will unfollow or dislike it. However, when I see people praising the Lord through their work, I am in awe. We can all be better disciples by sharing our faith and testimony of the goodness of the Lord.
Iesu pu. May the light and love of Jesus Christ be with us and shine through us.
Though Hawaii and Hawaiians today come from many different beliefs and religions, the influence of Christianity on the Hawaiian people should be appreciated. Because of Christian missionaries, the Hawaiian people were able to have their language formally explored and written. With the Hawaiian language becoming more official, and the people turning to more western ways, the Hawaiians were able to set up their own government (a monarchy).
Many communities were built on shared religion and faith, including my own ancestors. On the North Shore of O’ahu live many members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. There’s a temple in Laie, Hawaii too. All of this was possible because of those who took the first step in coming to Hawaii, and the man (Henry Opukahaia) who inspired that.
I hope that by learning more about the history of Christianity in Hawaii, exploring Henry Opukahaia’s story, and reflecting on who Jesus Christ is, we can each devote ourselves to Him once more. Let’s be better disciples and followers of the Savior. “Iesu pu.” May Jesus be with you, and with each of us.
Did you like the exploration of this phrase “Iesu pu”? How has Jesus Christ influenced your life? Let us know in the comments below. We’d love to hear your mana’o. 🙂
“Noho” is the Hawaiian word meaning to “sit, be, act, or live.” It also literally means a chair… so where am I going with this value? I want to explore how the concept of “noho” can help us in our lives. A lot of people don’t know why they’re here, where they’re going, or how to grow and move on from the past. We live in a world where we’re constantly bombarded by distractions, from our phones and social media to work and the mundane of life. It’s easy to get caught up in a mindless routine or to feel that we have a purpose in one thing because it’s serving or benefiting others.
Yet there are too many people breaking down and having quarter life, midlife, or other life crises because they don’t know their purpose. Maybe they did, especially when they were children, but as they grew older, they lost a sense of wonder, creativity, and excitement for life.
Let’s face it. Life is hard. It wasn’t meant to be easy because we’re here to be tested, to prove to God that we’re ready and willing to make the sacrifices necessary to get back to Him. But we have to sacrifice laziness, apathy, discouragement, and other bad habits to become, to be present, and to be mindful. God has given us all the tools we need to succeed, but it’s up to us to take advantage of those tools or not.
Noho is a state of being
Some common ways to use the word noho is to attach another word to it, like “hau’oli.” Hau’oli means “happy” in Hawaiian so “noho hau’oli” means to “live happily.” Noho olu’olu means to live comfortably. Noho malie means to keep quiet or remain still. When I wanted to open an Etsy shop years ago, I actually wanted to call the shop “Noho Pono,” meaning to be in a state or position of goodness and righteousness. However, in a more literal sense, “noho pono” could also mean to sit nicely or correctly haha. “E noho pono” is the sort of thing a mother might say to a child who is sitting sloppily or inappropriately.
For the purpose of this article, I want to explore how noho can be used as a state of being in an attitude, literal place, or mindset. There’s a reason I called my debut novel “Aloha State of Mind.” It’s a mindset, a constant choice we make, instead of something that comes and goes after a trip to Hawaii. “Noho” reminds us to choose what we make of this life and who we want to be. As we dive into the meaning of this word, I encourage you to think about your state of mind.
Are you present, mindful, and in a state of “being” or “becoming” something?
To Be or Not to Be
A family member recently sent a picture of Hamlet holding a skull and it took me back to my high school and college days of analyzing Hamlet’s famous soliloquy. When Hamlet says “to be or not to be” he is at the absolute lowest point in his life. Unfortunately, Hamlet feels so low, he has contemplated suicide and wonders if there’s a purpose to all the things he’s dealt with (his father’s murder, his mother getting remarried, his uncle becoming king, etc). Is life worth it? he asks. If we’re all going to die and return to the dust, as the skull, what is the point of living? Does life have meaning?
The play answers some of these questions, and leaves the rest for us to decide. Is life worth it? The answer is a resounding YES! The answer is “TO BE.” Life is a gift, a time to be present, to live, to feel, and to be. It doesn’t mean that life is going to be easy. Hardships are a part of the plan, and if we can look at challenges in a healthier way, it’ll help us persevere, no matter what.
“Noho” is “to be, to live.” Another Hawaiian word, which is also commonly used for living, is “‘ola.” We use this word a lot to mean “life.” But it can also simply mean “to exist.”
With noho we choose “to be” instead of “to exist.” Instead of existing and letting the world make choices for us, we choose who we want to be. Nobody can force us to do anything, or to feel anything, including sadness, happiness, anger, and so forth.
“You Choose to Be Upset”
When I would get annoyed as a young girl, my dad said, “You choose to be upset.” It was annoying to hear at the time, but I knew he was right. Nobody forced me to get mad or irritated. Nobody could turn a switch on in my body and I had absolutely no choice but to be mad.
We always have a choice. That’s the beauty of this life. Are we going to choose “to be” what we want, and who God wants us to be? Or are we simply going to “exist,” and let life push us here and there?
I read a quote recently that said something along the lines of: The way we came into this world is less important than the way we will leave it.
Isn’t that true? While it’s easy to blame our circumstances on parents, family, socio-economic status, education, and more, it doesn’t really matter how we came into the world or what happens in the world around us. What matters is who we are when we leave. Are we becoming the people we want to be?
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We are forgetting who we are
“Noho” also reminds us that the purpose of life IS to live. It’s not just to do ONE thing our whole lives, go through the motions, and/or stop growing/progressing. It’s easy to get wrapped up in the routine of our lives.
Fathers can lose touch with a sense of wonder and creativity as they focus solely on working and providing for a family. A mother can feel like she lacks identity as she focuses only on nurturing and raising children. College and high school students feel a sense of worthlessness if they can’t keep up a certain image or grade. Employees and bosses fall into the trap of becoming workaholics because they don’t know what else to do with their time or attention. So how does a person live out their purpose, while living the value of noho, being and becoming?
I spoke recently with a friend of an 18-month old child. She said she was exhausted—she loved her child, but she also didn’t feel purposeful. Her entire life revolved around taking care of that child, which led her to a sort of quarter-life crisis. There’s nothing wrong with motherhood, homemaking, and nurturing children, but we all need balance.
Each of us are still humans, with the need to create, to do something that brings the “spark” in our lives. Whether that’s spending time with other people, doing a creative project, or making time for a hobby that brings joy.
Unfortunately, a lot of people forget what they liked to do because they’ve become so used to having one purpose.
We all need a purpose and a spark
In the Disney movie, Soul, it explores the purpose of life, vs the spark in life. This was not my favorite movie, but I loved the concept of purpose and spark. We need both components in life to be, not just to exist. We have to know that our purpose is to LIVE, first of all. AND we all need that thing (or a few things) that spark joy. That spark could be a hobby, spending time with family, a creative endeavor, a project, a lifelong dream… it could be anything. But we all need both.
With noho, instead of simply existing, we live with purpose and do the things that ignite us. That “spark” touches not only us, but the lives of those around us too. What a blessing it is to live with purpose and use our God-given gifts, talents, and “spark” to light the world!
If you want a more specific article on how to find something that you truly love and enjoy doing, check out this article I wrote on mine and my husband’s shared blog, Kanani Life:
Sometimes, when we have a hard time finding our purpose and spark, it’s because we’ve lost a sense of belonging. Discovering purpose and belonging is the point of my second self help book, You Belong: Conversations on Color, Culture, & Christianity. Read my book here: Amazon or other online stores.
Noho isn’t about just “sitting around”
Stillness is incredibly important. We live in a world inundated with noise and distractions. Our phones constantly buzz with notifications, and we’ve become almost enslaved to them. We need quiet time. Yet despite the way many of us complain about work, quiet quit, or go from one job to the next, we’re meant to work.
Hard work gives us a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. It proves to us that we can provide for ourselves, which gives us confidence. Work can also provide purpose for some of us (though it shouldn’t be our entire purpose, as we’ve already discussed). So while it’s good to rest, as even God rested on the seventh day of creation, it’s also good to understand that work is part of life.
In the book of Genesis in the Holy Bible, when Adam and Eve were cast out from the garden of Eden, God told them that “by the sweat of they brow shalt thou eat bread all the days of they life.”
By the sweat of thy brows = work
All the days of thy life = work doesn’t end
Life isn’t easy for anyone, and we all have to work to some degree for our health, happiness, and security. It’s easy to think that once we hit retirement, there will be some magical button that makes us feel good or that we can finally rest. But we’re not meant to rest forever. Even God rested for one out of seven days.
A personal experience with noho
From personal experience, my husband and I have talked about how what we’re doing now are some of the things we want to do forever. I love writing, and I’m not planning to stop once I hit a certain age or a certain goal. I love learning and improving my craft, and then sharing my work with others (purpose + spark).
Likewise, my husband doesn’t want to stop learning once he builds a really cool thing or hits x-amount of subscribers on YouTube. His example of going for it in creative builds and projects has inspired others and fills him with a creative zest for life (again, purpose + spark). We should never stop learning, progressing, and growing. It’s what makes life interesting and fun.
At his current job, my husband actually works with a lot of men who have retired but returned to work because sitting around wasn’t working for them. We’re not meant to REST all the time.
Using noho in the Hawaiian language
Noho does mean chair. If you said something like “Aia ka noho i ka lumi kuke,” you’re saying “the chair is in the kitchen.” Noho really is a CHAIR.
But if you say “E noho aloha,” you’re saying to “be or live in a state of aloha” (“Noho aloha” basically means “aloha state of mind” haha). So while noho does literally mean a place to sit and rest, it also means a place of being and thinking.
Let’s not sit and rest forever, but understand that work is a part of life. We’re meant to keep being and becoming, not just to sit stagnant.
In Conclusion
Noho is a wonderful way to pause and look at who we are now, and where we’re going. It also helps us appreciate how far we’ve come. All of our journeys are different and wonderful. But if we can “be” present and mindful of where we are now, it will make all the difference for our lives and those around us.
I hope you can find joy as you contemplate this Hawaiian word and apply it into your life. It’s so important to look at hardships, work, and other facets of life in a healthier way, an aloha way.
E noho aloha!
✨ Sincerely,
Lei
P.S. If you’re looking for a social media place with good vibes, I’d love for you to follow on instagram or Pinterest. I share positive and Hawaii-related content in these spaces! 🌺
What do you think of noho?
In the comments below, I’d love to hear your thoughts on this concept. What does noho mean to you? What difference would it make in your life if you applied the concept of noho?
Swim with sharks in Hawaii? Are you crazy? Whenever my husband and I tell people we went swimming with sharks in Hawaii, they immediately give us a look that says, “What got into you?” I grew up in Hawaii, and sharks were one of those things that you knew swam in the ocean, but, if you didn’t bother them or do anything stupid, like splashing/flopping around, or swimming at dawn or dusk, then you were good.
I never thought I’d pay to swim with sharks though, and cage-less at that! But I started following Ocean Ramsey, a marine biologist and conservation activist, about a year ago. If you don’t follow her, I highly recommend it! She swims with sharks everyday, and the pictures and videos that she and her husband, Juan, take are absolutely beautiful.
You will see sharks in a whole new light.
Because I was also in the process of writing an epic fantasy that included sharks in it, I thought it would be wise to actually see sharks in the wild. For too long sharks have been demonized in the media. My mom never let me and siblings watch Jaws or other scary shark movies, and probably for good reason! Even just seeing images or clips from Jaws, I’m glad we didn’t watch it. There is so much more to sharks than meets the eye or what is portrayed in the media, and seeing them in the wild gave me that connection I really needed. I think it will for you too. Read on to find out where you can swim with sharks in Hawaii, why you should go cage-less, and why you should swim with sharks, as opposed to other wildlife animals!
Where can you swim with sharks in Oahu?
We went with One Ocean Diving, as it’s owned by Ocean and employees that she and her husband personally trained. The company offers a two hour shark snorkel three miles outside of Haleiwa harbor. There’s plenty of parking in the harbor, so it’s really not stressful. Just give yourself plenty of time to drive, especially if you’re coming from Waikiki.
There was such a stark difference of the look and vibe of One Ocean Diving versus the caged tour kiosks nearby. The caged tours showed “Jaws” -like pictures, quite an intimidating image. But One Ocean had such a different vibe: chill, not stressful, and respectful of sharks.
What can I expect on the tour?
The One Ocean Diving boat pulls up to this white framed-looking thing. Wait there and the workers will come talk to you. They’ll give you a waiver to sign, then you’re basically ready to go!
It didn’t take too long to get to the spot outside of the harbor, but it was a little choppy so if you get sea-sick easily, you might want to have taken something to help with that beforehand. As you ride out to sea, the guide will go over everything you need to know: what you’re allowed and not allowed to do, a little more information about sharks and their behavior, and some safety stuff.
Once at the spot, you’ll be told when you can go in. Enjoy seeing the sharks swim around the boat! The nerves and excitement are real! 😀
Don’t flop or splash as you go into the water. Enter calmly and enjoy watching the sharks swim below! If you feel confident enough, and want to get some cool footage with the sharks, you can ask the guide if you can dive down. Have someone else hold your GoPro so you dive down a little get some footage of you and the sharks. 🙂
The guides will tell you when it’s time to exit the water. Do so calmly. Once you’re back on the boat, take some deep breaths because that was AMAZING.
So why swim with sharks in Hawaii cageless?
There’s something about being in the ocean, not surrounded by a cage and watching the sharks beneath your fins. For lack of better words, it’s magical. I know there are people reading this and thinking, “There’s absolutely no way I’m getting in the water without the cage.” But with One Ocean Diving, there’s a guide with you. These guides have experience with sharks and they keep an eye out for every member on the tour. And let’s not forget to mention that these tours are small, maybe ten people max.
As the boat pulls up to the spot and you see the sharks swimming around, it’s nerve-wracking.
“I’m going in there?!” you ask, but then it’s absolutely exciting.
When you get into the water and actually see the sharks, you can connect with them on such a deep level. For me, I realized that the sharks really don’t want to bother you. They’re curious, and they have personalities, just like any other species, but it they minded their own business. It was incredible.
One Ocean Diving also has a 100% safe track record to date. Nobody has been hurt by sharks while on the shark snorkel tours with them!
Why swim with sharks in Hawaii? I would rather see dolphins, turtles, or whales.
There’s a Hawaiian value, mālama, which means to “care for and protect.” Sharks are a huge player in the ocean’s eco-system. Unfortunately, sharks are being slaughtered at an outrageous and unsustainable rate of 100 million a year—yes, 100 million. Sharks are apex predators and at the top of the marine eco-system. Not only do they keep things balanced as the species goes down the food chain, but they also feed on dead fish and trash, curbing sickness in marine wildlife.
When we seek understanding and actually go out and experience nature and wildlife, we’re more likely to mālama them. We understand their role, our role, and how we can help.
So yes, it’s totally cool if you want to find the dolphins, turtles, or whales, because I also believe that seeing and being around these creatures fosters the spirit of mālama. But if you have an irrational fear of sharks, or are haunted by images of Jaws, or simply want to understand sharks a little better, I think it’s totally worth it to take this tour. It’s safe, fun, and just an overall incredible and unforgettable experience.
How much does it cost?
When my husband and I went (December 2021), we got a discount code from the One Ocean Diving website, so it cost $120 per person. Follow One Ocean Diving or Ocean Ramsey on social media, or check the One Ocean Diving website to see if there are any promo codes!
What do I need to bring to swim with sharks in Hawaii?
We brought a little bag with water, a towel, our own snorkel gear, and a GoPro. If your snorkel and mask are white or yellow, you’ll have you use the black snorkel and mask they provide. They also provide black fins, as well as rash guards if you’d like to borrow. I did. 🙂
How do I get to Haleiwa harbor?
We stayed in Waikiki so we actually didn’t have a rental car for the week. However, we rented a Hui car for the day. This is such an easy and affordable way to get around the island, and I highly recommend!
By now I hope you’re convinced that swimming with sharks in Hawaii, on a little tour with One Ocean Diving, is totally worth the experience. Personally, I’ve grown up knowing that there are sharks throughout Hawaii, but it’s good to respect them, give them their space, and not provoke them. Hawaiians also have a cultural tradition of ‘aumakua, an ancestor who took the form of an animal. The ‘aumakua would serve their descendants by warning or protecting them. They might even offer comfort. On my mom’s side, the ‘aumakua is a manō, a shark, so I guess I never really worried about bumping into sharks. I later learned that ‘aumakua doesn’t mean that all sharks are your ancestors, but only one specific shark. And that’s ok too haha. 😛
As I stated earlier, I wrote a book that has the manō as a heavily featured character. My new book, Rise of the Manō, comes out in January 2022. Sign up for my newsletter and/or follow me on instagram to keep updated on the book!
Want to support conservation efforts?
Going on tours like this one, with One Ocean Diving, supports not only the One Ocean conservation effort, but a small and local business!
And if you love sharks, or become a shark lover, there’s another company, Fahlo, where you can buy bracelets and track your very own shark! I am an ambassador for their company and absolutely love their bracelets. They’re cute to wear or make great gifts for loved ones. I did a little more research into how “Save the Blue” (the conservation effort that Fahlo donates to) tracks the sharks, and the tags they use are small. The tags are inserted into the dorsal fin of the shark and, as far as they can tell, do not cause any harm to the sharks.
Use this link here or code LEIALOHA20 to get 20% off your order at check out! Get your Fahlo bracelet and track your very own shark today! 🙂
Watch our experience here!
Do you want to see mine and my husband’s shark experience? Check out this instagram post! Would you swim with sharks in Hawaii? Let me know in the comments below. Or if you got to experience this in Hawaii, let us know your thoughts! 🙂
Looking for some inspirational quotes for when you’re down? Whether you face winter blues, a creative lag, an episode of depression, or simply need something to give you a little boost, here are 5 inspirational quotes for you!
A wonderful aloha value that goes with this is ha’aha’a, humility. It’s so easy to get wrapped up in the things we’re doing. We sometimes place our value in what we create, complete, or succeed at… but we lose ourselves when we do that. Let’s not take ourselves too seriously, laugh at mistakes, enjoy life, and be grateful!
Sometimes sadness comes on because we have high expectations. When expectations aren’t met we face disappointment. This is a principle I’ve had to teach myself, because when I place expectations on others, myself, or certain situations, I get upset when things don’t go as planned. Instead of trying to force our agenda and will on things out of our control, let’s just appreciate the moment. Appreciate being present, being here.
We would never wish hardships or trials on others, and often times we wish we didn’t have to go through the challenges we’ve been given. But with an eternal perspective, we can see that challenges don’t define us, but they can refine us.
Values like ho’ohana, ho’omau, and ‘ike loa, teach us to be happy where we are. We don’t have to wait for the perfect circumstances or even start in the same place as others. We can create paradise where we are, as my debut novel, “Aloha State of Mind,” talks about!
Sometimes we get into bad moods because we aren’t actively seeking something. Are we looking to have more peace, more hope, or joy? What will we do to get there? With the value of ‘ike loa, we can “see much.” And with the value of imi ‘ola, we can seek the highest and best in life, helping us find answers to our questions and needs.
Prayer is also a beautiful way to “seek” and find, as this quote comes from a popular scripture. When we connect with God, we can feel loved and worthy. ❤︎
Your turn
What are your favorite inspirational quotes for when you’re down?
Hollywood has given sharks a bad rep over the years, and it’s too bad because sharks play a huge role in the ocean system. Sharks are apex predators, meaning that they’re at the top of the food chain. Their role ensures that the species below them don’t overpopulate and ultimately keep the life of the ocean balanced. Unfortunately, sharks are being harvested and hunted at unsustainable rates—we’re talking millions of sharks killed a year. I hope that this article, with some punny lines and cultural insights from a Hawaiian perspective, can help all of us appreciate sharks a little more and do our part to protect them. 🦈
The Shark in Hawaiian Culture
In Hawaii, the manō, shark, was hunted and used for jewelry, weapons, and other tools. Shark skin was used to make drums for hula dancing. Hawaiians exercised caution, especially when a specific area was known to have sharks. An old folktale said that if one placed a ti leaf in the water and it floated, it was safe to swim. If the ti leaf sank, it wasn’t safe.
The most commonly known representation of the manō in the Hawaiian culture includes the concept of the ‘aumakua. An ‘aumakua is deceased ancestor who takes the shape of a specific animal. It could be a pueo (owl), ‘io (hawk), mo’o (gecko), nai’i (dolphin), manō, or any other kind of animal. The ‘aumakua wasn’t meant to be worshipped but rather honored and revered. Families would leave food for their ‘aumakua if the animal frequented their area. Sometimes ‘aumakua came to warn, protect, or guide their descendants to take the correct path. The manō is an ‘aumakua animal, which is why the Hawaiians were careful of which animals they hunted. It would be completely disrespectful to kill an ‘aumakua.
My Experience with Sharks
With that said, we can learn so much from the behavior and biology of sharks. They’re quite beautiful and magnificent creatures. One of the most common questions I get asked about Hawaii is, “Are there sharks in Hawaii?” The answer is, yes, of course! There are sharks all throughout the ocean. But when we respect boundaries and take precautions, we can coexist. I’ve only seen sharks twice in my life, and I lived in Hawaii for a long time. And those times I saw the sharks were times I shouldn’t have been in the water anyways. However, I can say they’re quite amazing creatures. Since leaving Hawaii, I’ve felt a desire to do my part in protecting sharks. Read to the end to know how you can help too! Without further adieu, here are 5 life lessons from a shark!
Five Life Lessons from a Shark
Know Your Place
Sharks know their place as apex predators, and they’re not afraid to own that. Do we know our place? In our family, community, Country, and even the world? One value that can help us know our place, our purpose, and mission in life is kuleana, responsibility. Each of us a responsibility and a unique contribution to make in this world. Every life is precious and worthy, including yours!
Keep Swimming
Sharks continue to swim, no matter what. When life throws curveballs and challenges our way, how can we respond with grace and aloha? Instead of getting upset and angry about the scars, can we keep swimming? How much energy would we save if we chose to forgive, let go, and move forward?
Have a Sense of Curiosity
Sharks have a natural curiosity. They like to see what others are up to, and get a closer look. Are there things that we can be a little more curious about in life? When I think of curiosity, I think of the value of pa’a ka waha, which means to “close the mouth.” We spend too much time talking about ourselves. Why don’t we hand others the mic and see what they have to say? Be curious about their lives, and you’ll be surprised by the insights and lessons you learn.
Stay Sharp
Shark teeth are so fascinating… and sharp! Are we keeping our skills sharp, or are we choosing to let life slip through our fingers? A graphologist told me that I’m not a naturally organized person, but I’ve developed skills to become organized. This reminded me that too often we give up on certain skills because “it just doesn’t come naturally” or “it’s too hard.” But the truth is: anyone can develop a skill if they practice and create a system that works to develop that skill.
So whether you want to be more organized, patient, motivated, or whatever else, remember that it’s totally possible. Sharpen that skill, and it will eventually become a part of who you are and what you naturally do.
Do Fin-tastic Things
Life’s too short to say, “I just can’t do that” or “I’m not ___ enough” or “I can’t afford it.” With the value of ‘ike loa (seeing much), we can see endless possibilities ahead. We can ho’omau by creating solutions to our problems and do all the fin-tastic things we ever dreamed of.
Bonus: Be Jaw-some! 🦈
How to Support Conservation Efforts for Sharks
Do you love sharks as much as I do? Want to support conservation efforts in a way that’s easy and fun? Fahlo is a wildlife conservation company that sells affordable, cute bracelets. Each bracelet comes with a shark that you can track. Fahlo sends the proceeds to conservation efforts that support and protect sharks, turtles, polar bears, and elephants. I love that I can wear a bracelet reminding me to mālama the earth and its animals.
If you want to get your own bracelet, or, even better, gift a bracelet to a shark loving friend, check out Fahlo. Use my code LEIALOHA20 to get 20% off your order!
Any thoughts?
Did I forget any life lessons from a shark? Write your shark puns, lessons, and ideas in the comments! Mahalo!
Mana is the Hawaiian word for “energy and life source.” Everything has mana in it. In Western culture, mana compares with “vibe” or “spirit.” We gain mana by following and choosing light. We lose mana by allowing any form of darkness into our lives.
To help us understand thisa little deeper, we can see how people and places have powerfully positive or negative energy. For example, King Kamehameha the Great is someone with strong mana because he led armies to conquer and unify all the Hawaiian islands. His influence and power invoked strong mana, the kind of dark energy that stirs crippling fear amongst those around him. His character is recognized to this day–both for good and bad.
Some people have strong mana in a positive way. We all know those people who light up the room when they walk in. People are naturally attracted to them because of the light in their eyes, the purity in their countenance, and the aloha we feel from their hearts connecting with our own. That is positive mana.
More examples
Specific locations can also carry strong energy, such as the Kilauea volcanoor the top of Mauna Kea on the Big Island. Old legends tell of a white god visiting the people on Mauna Kea, and the spiritual experiences the people had, making it a sacred place. Particular forests and waterfalls in Hawaii carry special mana because of the nature and memories within them.
Some places have dark mana, like the Pali on O’ahu, due to the battle of Nu’uanu that took place on its cliff edge. When King Kamehameha the Great pursued the unification of the islands, he met great opposition on O’ahu. A bloody battle took place at the Pali, where almost a thousand men were pushed to the edge of the cliff, falling to their deaths.
I believe we can choose our mana by purposefully improving and becoming our best selves, and always choosing light and peace. We would do well to often check in on our mana, the spirit housed in our bodies, the invisible life within. What energy are we giving off? Do we have good or bad mana?
Avoid Bad Mana
When we choose maluhia (peace), we choose to avoid bad mana. It’s probably superstitious or old fashioned to believe in mana. Every time I bring up mana, people look at me like I’m crazy. And the reason is that mana isn’t seen, it’s felt.
With the value of ho’okipa,we learned that our homes contain the kind of mana that we allow into it. If we watch dark shows, movies, and entertainment, we open a door to let that energy into our homes. If we use bad language, waste time (especially since time is a gift), and constantly stress, that energy fills our homes.
Likewise, our bodies and spirits contain the kind of mana we allow into it. If we choose dark entertainment, make poor choices, and allow high emotions to rule our lives, our mana turns bad. But if we control ourselves, take responsibility, and entertain wholesome activities, our mana burns brightly, attracting and lifting all those around us.
We should actively seek good energy and avoid bad mana. For example, we can ask ourselves questions like:
What situations or people make me feel bad about myself?
After interacting with my friends, do I feel uplifted or bogged down?
How often do I leave a movie or location because of the bad energy surrounding it?
Are my daily activities adding darkness or light to my life?
I hope we frequently turn away from the things that bring darkness into our lives. As we learned with ponoand kupa’a, even if we stand alone in our decisions, it’s better to have light than darkness.
Everything we do determines who we are
I’m a firm believer that everything we’ve ever heard, watched, felt, or done has a huge impact on who we are today. We can’t always avoid the evils of the world, but we can choose how we react to them, as we learned with kuleana.
For example, if we hear something inappropriate or degrading, how do we react? Do we let our thoughts linger on it, allowing it to creep into who we are?
Are we mindful of the things being done or said around us, and how they impact us?
Do we remember maluhia, peace, and who we really want to be?
If we want to have good vibes, we need to let the good things into our life. Serving, praying, learning, and gaining knowledge are all ways to invite good vibes. Spending time with uplifting people, having meaningful conversations, and choosing calm instead of anger–all of these things bring aloha. Being a light, loving others without conditions, and withholding judgment also invite the spirit of maluhia into our lives.
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If we want to have good vibes, we need to let the good things into our life. Treasuring God’s word, serving, and praying are all ways to invite good energy. Being a light, loving others without conditions, and withholding judgment also invite the spirit of goodness and aloha into our lives.
I hope you’ll work to have good vibes. When you go to Hawaii or anywhere in nature, good mana is like kharma—it always comes back to you. 😉
✨ With joy & aloha,
Leialoha
P.S. If you’re looking for a social media place with good vibes, I’d love for you to follow on instagram or Pinterest. I share positive and Hawaii-related content in these spaces! 🌺
What do you think of mana?
In the comments below, I’d love to hear your thoughts on this concept. Do you believe in it or is it a little too much for you? 😉
The Hawaiian word, paulele, teaches us a valuable lesson: have faith, confidence, trust, and believe completely. From personal experience, the Hawaiians and locals I’ve met throughout my life in the islands were very spiritual people. Even if we didn’t worship at the same churches, there was still an invisible string of faith and love that connected us, much like aloha. In Hawaii, we feel a deep connection to the ‘aina, one another, and to God.
This article is my take on the word paulele based off my experience growing up in Hawaii and faith in God. In my personal opinion, paulele focuses on our relationship with God. Even in the Hawaiian dictionary, the definition of paulele references a bible verse where the word is used. It’s easy to credit miracles, positive experiences, and even overcoming challenges to ourselves, others, or “the universe,” but when we do that, we completely ignore the person who loves, created, and gifts us with this life: God.
Exercising paulele doesn’t come naturally, as we would rather believe in things we see before our eyes. But paulele helps us see the bigger picture, even if it’s not always the one we want or expect. It is faith and trust that God is there, he loves us, and things will work according to his plan, which is greater and better than our own.
Paulele also means having faith in Jesus Christ, the son of God. Everything that Jesus did for us and the life he exemplified would take up this entire article (and more!), so I can simply say that paulele is having faith in Christ too, not just anyone or anything, but in a Savior who can lift, help, comfort, and guide us.
The following are some ways we can live the value of paulele:
Paulele is faith in any of its forms
In the bible we read, Aʻole au i ʻike i ka paulele nui” Luka 7:9, which translates to, “I have not seen so great faith.” Faith has been described in many ways throughout scripture and its commentary: great faith, strong faith, beautiful faith, perfect faith, little faith, and so forth.
When the disciples feared the raging sea and awoke Jesus to calm the waters, the Savior asked, “Why are ye so fearful?” Faith, in any of its forms, drives out fear. What kind of faith do we strive for? When we think more about the value of paulele, we can make a clear decision of what kind of faith we want.
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Believe implicitly
The Hawaiian dictionary (this is the one I always use) states that paulele is to “believe implicitly.” Implicit means something implied or assumed without stating it. I love that with paulele, you can believe something but not have to state it, because that belief is manifest in your actions.
For example, when someone reads the scriptures, the word of God, they do it with the belief that they will gain something from it. I know that for me, sometimes I don’t get much out of my scripture studies. Maybe I was tired that morning or lacking focus, but I always feel better after I try.
When we believe, we try. And when we put forth even the smallest effort, God recognizes that and blesses us more than we deserve.
We can also believe implicitly when we work towards our goals. As a writer and new indie author, I have to constantly be a cheerleader for myself. It’s not easy, but when I pray about this path for me, I feel that I’m right on track. And I go forward with faith knowing that the journey might not be perfect, but I believe that it will be worth it. God will make things work out the way they should.
It’s not always easy to believe in things we can’t see, but because of our trust in God, we believe and step forward into the unknown. Our faith drives away fear. Even if we don’t know all the answers, make mistakes, or even fail at our efforts, our faith continues to push us forward, ignoring the negative voices.
Having faith in every season of life
With paulele, we have faith through any season of life: the good, the bad, and the ugly. Often we find ourselves on our knees in prayer when things aren’t going well. But what about when things are good? Do we take the time to remember his hand in our lives? Our faith truly shines when we love and trust God through both the ups and downs of life.
Mahalo ke Akuahelps us appreciate the moment, the miracles, and see the beauty and goodness in our lives.
Trust and believe, even when others don’t
It makes me sad to see people downplaying the importance of Jesus Christ. Even Christianity in general is seeing a decline. Our Savior, the most important person to have ever lived, wasn’t only mocked while he lived on the earth. He is continually mocked in the media, being “cancelled” by cancel culture, and the list could go on. And let’s not even mention the way people use his name and titles in vain.
However, those who live paulele trust and believe, even when others don’t. Even when society wants to get rid of Christianity and any of its references. We continue to believe and have faith in God and Jesus Christ. We continue to believe because we love God and Jesus, and we know that our personal conversion is more important than anything else. It can inspire us to do and be good, and when they have our back, how can we fail?
Paulele can be fun
I know that it can be difficult to pray and read scriptures everyday, so why not make it fun? Choosing topics and asking questions that interest me help make my studies meaningful and fun for me. I also like to use notebooks, pens, and colored pencils to highlight and annotate my scriptures and take notes. Bible and scripture study need not be boring. It can be an amazing experience.
Another thing is to join with other Christians in celebrating Christ. We don’t have to belong to the same religion. We all love Jesus, so let’s focus on that similarity between us. Talk with your friends about what they’ve been studying. Ask about their perspective on stories from Jesus’ life. Discover how Christ brings love and life to them.
Also feel free to watch uplifting content about Jesus that’s out there. I’ve really enjoyed watching “the Jesus show,” as people call it haha. I’m not into shows or series but “The Chosen” really inspires me and shows a fresh perspective on Jesus that I appreciate. The Bible videos also stick to actual passages of scripture from the bible and this definitely helps visual learners as they study the life of Christ.
Questions to reflect on paulele
Do I have faith? What is my form of faith?
Do I believe implicitly?
How do I feel about the world’s view on Christianity? Do I truly trust and believe in God and Jesus Christ?
How can I make growing my faith fun for me?
An article related to this one is the value of Mahalo. Feel free to check it out!
Let’s hear your take on this!
In the comments below, what is your take on paulele? What are some other ways you live the value of paulele?
E komo mai! 🌺 I am the author of Aloha State of Mind, a self help book that teaches you how to create paradise wherever you are. My blog, Naturally Aloha, focuses on all things Hawaii: culture, values, food, lifestyle, and more. I hope my writing inspires you to carry aloha with you everywhere! Learn more…
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