These are the easiest Hawaii gifts for her! Ever wondered what to gift to give to a Hawaii lover? If your girl loves Hawaii, this is the list for you! With a variety of prices and items, you’ve got a lot to choose from here. From pineapple themed items to more traditional Hawaiian goodies (even food!), your Hawaii girl is going to LOVE the gift you get her! Whether it’s her birthday, achievement, holiday, or just because, these Hawaii gifts will delight and remind her of Hawaii!
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Under $10
These Hawaii gifts are for the budget-savvy! Make her day with these fun Hawaii gifts!
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The Hawaiian word ‘ohana means family. The word is familiar to most people but seemed to be made popular by Disney’s “Lilo & Stitch,” where the characters quote, “‘Ohana means family. Family means no one gets left behind.”
This is indeed true of families, but there is a deeper meaning to the word and spirit of ‘ohana. It’s more than just inclusion or not being forgotten. It’s about fostering loving and lasting relationships with those of our blood-relatives, as well as our brothers and sisters in the human family.
The Polynesian culture deeply values ‘ohana, and family ties are more important than anything else—more important than money, than fame, than material things. A brother would sacrifice anything for a brother, a parent for a child, a sister for a sister… Family ties are so important.
Generations before are also deeply important. We find our sense of place by knowing who our ancestors were, and what they sacrificed for us.
So how do we implement the value of ‘ohana into our lives? What if we come from broken families, or if we’ve never felt the ties to loved ones?
Queen Lili’uokalani’s ‘Ohana
Those who have studied the life of Hawaii’s last monarch, Queen Lili’uokalani know that she was a hanai, adopted, daughter to Abner Paki and Laura Konia. In her own bibliography, the queen notes how this was the common practice of ancient Hawaii.
It was a custom that the firstborn in the family went to one of the parent’s siblings. This may seem odd to western culture, and the queen acknowledges this.
Why would anyone give their firstborn to a sibling to raise? we wonder.
It was the concept of ‘ohana… that we are all connected, and sharing families helps avoid pilikia, trouble or offense. It requires trust and confidence in your family to give your firstborn to a sibling.
If it was so important to the ancient Hawaiians to give their firstborn children to another for care, what does that mean for us today?
‘Ohana connects us, no matter what
Certainly, none of us are expected to give our firstborn children to a sibling!
But what if, instead of giving up a firstborn child, we give more love and friendship to our families?
If we granted them a little more trust or, at least, the benefit of the doubt, would that change the dynamic?
Would things change if we loved and had confidence in our families enough to support them? What if we forgave them willingly and openly?
The spirit of ‘ohana is that we are deeply connected: by our heritage, our shared blood, and our family ties. We came to this earth at this time, together, and we can be together even after this life.
The spirit of ‘ohana is that we support our blood ‘ohana as well as those not related to us. After all, we are all God’s children so every person we pass is a brother and sister. So we do well to one another, love one another, and care for one another—physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
How else can we live the spirit of ‘ohana?
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Reach out to ‘ohana
It seems to me that most families are not very open with one another. As the world advances in technology and resources, people grow further and further apart.
Take the time to reach out to your family members. Let them know you’re there. Even if you don’t agree on things, such as religion, politics, finances, etc do what you can to preserve the relationship. You’ll find that deep relationships, where differences are discussed in a mature and meaningful way, can last forever. And you might find that you have more in common than you realized.
Seek understanding
We all come from families of every shape and size, and it’s important to seek understanding in each interaction. Families mold the way we see the world, and it’s important to understand, for yourself and others, how families have shaped us. Most times we seek understanding by being better listeners. Read more about how to do that here:
Some of us come from families where abuse, in all its degrading forms, was common in the home. Have the courage to recognize the abuse, then make a decision to break the cycle. Many cycles of abuse are generational, meaning they pass from one generation to another.
It’s usually caused by the beliefs of ‘ohana members past, and their beliefs do not need to be yours. Notice your thoughts and feelings towards other and your family, and make the commitment to break any cycles that have repeated itself in your family.
For those coming from broken families
One of the hardest things for me in moving to the mainland was the constant stereotype that Polynesian families are strong and close. Most Polynesian families have strong ties and healthy relationships, but not all.
When my parents got divorced, I felt estranged from my dad and his family. I felt disenchanted by my grandparents, who had played such little roles in my life. So when people on the mainland assumed that, because I was Hawaiian, my family was strongly knit together, it hurt.
No family is perfect, but I did crave the strong bonds I saw in other families. It made my heart happy to see siblings that cheered one another on, and parents who genuinely listened and supported their kids.
Take heart 💙
So if you come from a broken family, take heart. You can still value ‘ohana and keep the spirit of it in your life.
The spirit of ‘ohana is that every person is a part of the family, and every person has something they can contribute.
I believe that God compensates for the things we lack. For example, I never really had a strong emotional bond with either of my parents. Their way of coping with things was to stuff it down. Later in life, I met amazing women who were mother figures in my life. I never quite had a father figure, so I turned to God for that, because he is the father of our spirits, and he is perfect. Take hope, knowing that God compensates for the lack in your life.
There is hope for a better ‘ohana for everyone in this world. My hope came when I got married, knowing that I was starting my own ‘ohana. My hope came in knowing that I’m the one breaking the cycle of abuse so that generations after me will always have reason to hope.
So hold onto that hope, no matter what your ‘ohana looks like right now. And remember, you are a part of one big ‘ohana too!
With joy and aloha,
Leialoha
P.S. If you’re new here, check out my free mini course, 5 Hawaiian Days to Wellness, complete with Hawaiian values, challenges, and encouragement!
Mālama is the Hawaiian word “to care for and protect.” You’ll commonly hear the word mālama associated with the phrase, “Mālama ka ‘aina,” meaning to take care of the land.
Hawaiians, to this day, love, preserve, and protect the land. It is the source of our living. If we take care of it, it will take care of us.
The word mālama can be used in other ways too. If you’re in Hawaii and are saying goodbye to someone, they might tell you, “Mālama pono” meaning to “watch out” or “be careful.”
Another common phrase is “Mālama Honua” which means to take care of the earth. When we protect the planet, we keep it well for future generations.
Mālama can also mean tending to others. Those who live the value of mālama have a bigger perspective. They see that every person suffers from something and needs nurturing and love. These attributes may come naturally to some of us, but, for others, these are skills that take time and practice to develop.
When we mālama, see the needs of others, the world, and ourselves, and we respond responsibly.
Like many of the other Hawaiian values, we can implement the value of mālama in our lives through service, protecting, and nurturing. An interesting thing about mālama is that when we care for others, we actually provide healing for ourselves too.
It’s an interesting paradox, but makes sense. After all, Christ said that “…whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it” (Luke 9:24).
When we actively seek opportunities to care for others, we find ourselves, as well as purpose and meaning in our lives.
Here are other ways to live the value of mālama.
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Mālama is Selfless Service
When I was about 16 years old, I remember being hungry a lot because we lived in poverty. For many nights, mom put random things together for dinner. She stretched out the budget by making things homemade, and we usually ate every last crumb of our meals.
We were faithful church members and made friendships with a lot of people there. One of the friendships was with full filipino aunty Fabi, who just married full Mexican Uncle Al. They invited us to their house and whenever they did, there was guaranteed to be a lot of food.
Uncle Al made delicious, authentic Mexican food, and Aunty Fabi made mouth-watering, authentic Filipino food. Both were expert cooks.
“You eat like birds,” Uncle Al teased when our stomachs filled up fast at his house. There were five of us, but we barely made a dent to the tray of enchiladas. Our stomachs were small.
Uncle Al and Aunt Fabi exemplified mālama to me. They served and cared for us, when our own parents couldn’t do that for us: Emotionally, Uncle Al would crack jokes to make us laugh; Physically, they both fed us; and mentally, they genuinely asked about our school activities and whereabouts.
Mālama gives all… there’s no holding back.
One day, my older sister complained there was no food in the house. She was the most vocal of the siblings, brave enough to argue back with dad. I think God sent angels to help us because several hours later, Uncle Al showed up with a huge tray of enchiladas.
Mālama. Care. Tend. Protect. Preserve. Uncle Al and Aunt Fabi probably had no idea what a difference they made… they were just doing their best to care for others. When we live with an attitude of mālama, we can spread aloha in so many ways… ways that we didn’t even know were possible.
Honor yourself and others
Mālama means to take care of yourself too. If you don’t take care of your emotional, physical, and spiritual needs, it is difficult to serve others. Honor your personal dignity by trying self care activities and refueling your spirit.
You honor others when you seek self improvement and try to become your best self.
Mālama ka ‘aina
Take care of the land. As I said earlier, when you take care of the land, it takes care of you. In the Hawaiian saying, “Nana i ke kumu” we learn to look to the land as a source of knowledge, inspiration, and physical nourishment.
When we care for and respect the land and its creatures, it does the same for us. It teaches us valuable life lessons and provides peace.
I have learned many things from observing God’s creations, especially the sea turtles in Hilo. During a trying time in my life, I sat at the beach every morning, watching the sea turtles swim in from the ocean. Their gracious presence, wise eyes, and kind spirits taught me a lot of life lessons.
From interacting with and caring for God’s creations, I felt nurtured and refreshed in return.
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Mālama inspires us to protect the innocent
There are a lot of terrible things going on in the world today, whether we want to turn a blind eye to it or not: human trafficking, racism, abortion, abuse, poverty, starvation, etc.
We can’t do everything for everyone, but we can support causes we feel passionately about, whether that’s through raising awareness, educating ourselves, or volunteering time, money, or resources.
When we protect the innocent, we honor the value of human life. We live a pono life, restoring balance in the world.
Watch this video to learn more about why we should fight against abortion: 2,363
Also please consider donating to help end child trafficking: O.U.R.
Mālama is loving aloha
Mālama is an inspiring Hawaiian value that, when practiced, can bring a lot of joy. I’m sure Uncle Al and Aunt Fabi found joy in serving our family. Their food, made with love, brought us joy too.
Can you imagine what the world would be like if we all cared for one another a little more? If we served a little more? It doesn’t even have to be huge. Even just having a lighthearted conversation with a cashier, a smile to a stranger, or a quiet service to a family member can foster the value of mālama in our homes and lives.
When we learn to mālama, we invite the constant flow of aloha, love, into our lives, thereby creating paradise right where we are.
With aloha,
Leialoha
If you want to bring more aloha into your home, check out my free ebook: Bringing Aloha Home
It’s your turn!
If you have any other ideas on how to implement the value of mālama, let me know in the comments below! 🙂
Ha’aha’a is the Hawaiian word for “humility or humble.” When we live the value of ha’aha’a, we learn to come from a place of love, understanding that things won’t always work out or be perfect. And that’s OK.
The attitude of ha’aha’a is being meek, unpretentious, and modest.
Those who live ha’aha’a sincerely rejoice in the goodness and success of others and themselves.
They don’t raise themselves above others on any basis, whether that be wealth, class, race, ethnicity, etc.
It’s difficult to live the value of ha’aha’a, as we live in a society that tells us we deserve everything we see in ads and marketing, or when we compare ourselves to the “perfect” lives we see on social media.
However, when we choose to live the value of ha’aha’a, we become a magnet of goodness. We emit the love and compassion of Christ. People are drawn to us because they feel and know the sincerity of our hearts.
People can trust us, because those who live ha’aha’a withhold judgment, and, instead, show forth love and understanding.
They come from a place of aloha, love, instead of fear.
The opposite of ha’aha’a
It might be easier to understand how to live the value of ha’aha’a by explaining its opposite.
Ever since I was a preteen, I felt the strain of want. I wanted nice clothes, not the hand-me-downs from my sister, I wanted to have beautiful hair, nice shoes, but mostly just new, stylish clothes. We were terribly poor by the time we moved to Hawaii, so I could never get what I wanted.
Every now and then my mom would take us to Old Navy for some new clothes, but we’d get the least-expensive, most basic shirts and a few pairs of shorts that could last me a couple of years. I always felt so out of style, envious of the girls who had nice clothes and dresses.
When I got to college and worked some jobs, I got a couple of new clothes. And I had a realization… something we all hear but never realize until it hits us in the face.
Money can’t buy happiness.
Ha’aha’a is being happy where you are, and happy for others… at the same time
I got new clothes, but I still wasn’t happy. I still wanted more. But I couldn’t afford more.
It was then I realized that being happy doesn’t come from owning more things. Happiness comes from a humble heart. It comes from just being happy for others.
No, I couldn’t afford all the nice things and I’ve certainly never been the most stylish person.
But I can just be happy where I’m at. Ha’aha’a. Humility.
We can envy things that other people have, focusing on their abundance and our lack… or we can focus on what we do have.
For me, I had a lot of skills, kindness, and the ability to work hard. And that was enough.
Ha’aha’a is being grateful for what we do have, instead of looking at the lack. It goes hand in hand with mahalo.
How else can we implement the value of ha’aha’a?
Ha’aha’a is being willing to learn
A person who is humble is also willing to learn from others. As with the value of ‘ike loa, a person who lives ha’aha’a is childlike. They’re full of wonder, willing to learn and gain knowledge.
They listen when others speak, and feel when it’s appropriate to speak themselves. They love to contribute, even if they don’t always know what to do. They’re just willing to help.
Ha’aha’ looks for the good
A person living ha’aha’a looks for the good in others. They don’t boast of their own accomplishments, but genuinely compliment and bring out the best in others.
Ha’aha’a thirsts after knowledge
The humble person studies diligently, knowing that there’s always something more they can learn. They ponder topics that interest them, and seek God’s help for inspiration and further learning.
Becoming humble isn’t an easy task. It requires so much concentration, and truly listening to our own thoughts. When we recognize that sometimes we judge or criticize others, or claim that we can “do it better,” we’re taking away the opportunity to serve and rejoice with others.
Let us become a more humble people. As we do so, more unity (lokahi), and joy will come into our lives and communities.
With aloha and joy,
Leialoha
Let’s hear from you!
In the comments below, I’d love to hear how you implement the value of ha’aha’a!
If you’d like to learn more about the Hawaiian values and how to apply them into your life, check out my 5 Hawaiian Days to Wellness mini course. It’s free and gets straight to your inbox! 🙂
Kuleana is the Hawaiian word meaning “responsibility.” Kuleana encourages to be accountable for all that we do. It is the “ability to respond” to whatever is happening.
Those who live the value of kuleana know that their happiness is dependent on what happens inside of them, not outside. They choose how they react to circumstances, not let the circumstances determine how they feel.
When we live with kuleana, we do our part to take care of ourselves, our communities, and the environment.
Kuleana means we all have a responsibility
I went to a high school summer program called Na Pua No’eau, and learned how to sail the wa’a, the Hawaiian canoe. The theme of this program was “He Kuleana Ko Kakou,” meaning that “We all have a responsibility.”
They taught us how we have a responsibility to become our best selves—in order to better society—to develop our creative abilities, to preserve our heritage and culture, and to take care of the earth.
Each day our group leaders reminded us of the theme, and it’s stuck with me ever since. Every person has something to contribute for the betterment of society, for taking care of the earth, and even for preserving heritage.
When we look at our kuleana in the facets of our life, we might see that there’s a lot of work to be done.
Kuleana is a strength
Some people think that self help/improvement is for the weak… when, truly, it is for everyone. We ALL can improve. It is our kuleana. Some people think that since somebody else is doing the business, creative project, volunteer work, or service they like, there’s not enough room for them. But there is an abundance of resources and audiences for everyone. We EACH have a contribution to make to this world. Kuleana is recognizing that it’s truly up to YOU whether you succeed or not. Kuleana is taking responsibility to improve ourselves so we can reach our goals and live up to our divine potential.
Here are some of the responsibilities we have:
We have a kuleana to God, through being pono and right. We take accountability and exercise faith by relying on his son, Jesus Christ.
We have a kuleana to others, through service, supporting important causes, and protecting the innocent.
We have a kuleana to ourselves, by becoming our best selves, improving, and giving ourselves credit.
We have a kuleana to take care of the earth.Malama ka ‘aina is one of Hawaii’s most used Hawaiian phrases. If we don’t take care of it, who will?
Does kuleana feel overwhelming? It might, for some. For those who are seeking daily improvement, however, this may feel familiar.
We ALL have the gift of agency, meaning that we can all create what we want from this life. But it’s our kuleana to use our agency for good.
What are some ways you can implement the value of kuleana in your life? Here are some suggestions.
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Kuleana helps us control what we can
I’m writing this article from my home as COVID-19 sweeps through the nation. It’s scared so many people, and left us feeling uncertain and scared. It’s made me feel pretty out of control… I miss my freedom of doing what I want when I want.
But this is where kuleana comes in. I have the ability to respond. And I choose to respond with optimism.
I’ve used this time to create new content and write my book.
Control what you can control, which is YOU, and let the rest go. That is the essence of kuleana.
Be accountable
Sometimes, in life, we just need someone to talk to and remind us of who we are and what we truly want. I find I take more responsibility for myself when I tell someone the things I’m doing.
My husband listens when I share insights, or process things that happened. When we talk to people and share our thoughts and aspirations, we become accountable.
We don’t go talking to just anyone though… find someone who you trust. If you struggle with trust, take it to God. In the end, we will all be accountable to him anyways.
Be kind to yourself
I used to get upset at myself when I couldn’t get everything done on my list. Kuleana is all about looking at the big picture, figuring out the most important things, and then taking responsibility to get the most important things done.
Too many people spend their lives being “busy,” but not really completing the most important things they wanted to do: spending time with family, serving more, creating something, etc.
Be kind to yourself when you fall short, but be willing to change and improve to do the things that matter most.
He kuleana ko kakou. We all have a responsibility. I hope you’ll take advantage of knowing that you are a part of the bigger picture. You matter. And you have the ability to respond in order to make your life better and happier!
With aloha and joy,
Leialoha
Let’s hear from you!
What is your kuleana in life? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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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