When people ask me what Hawaiian music I like, it’s sort of a difficult question to answer. The term “Hawaiian Music” is a lot broader than people think. For example, I like the ancient style of Hawaiian music, used in hula dancing or chanting. I also like old Hawaiian music and slack key guitar, the kind that my mom would play as I grew up. Furthermore, I truly enjoy contemporary Hawaiian music, by musicians living today that are active in the Hawaiian community. Jawaiian and local favorites are also something I enjoy listening to while I’m with my siblings.
With that said, I want to explore the different genres of music within “Hawaiian music,” because there’s simply more than just one type of Hawaiian music. Hopefully, by the end of this article, you can get a better idea of what type of Hawaiian music you’re looking for, and maybe explore other categories within the bigger genre!
Ancient Hawaiian Music for Hula Dancing, Call & Response
Mele (music) has always been a huge part of the Hawaiian culture. In fact, there are two types of mele that we talk about, especially when it comes to dancing hula: kahiko and auana. Kahiko refers to the ancient music of Hawaii, involving chanting, blowing the pū, and tapping the ipu. Auana refers to modern Hawaiian music, including piano, slack key guitar, and singing.
I found a playlist that does a wonderful job of encompassing the ancient Hawaiian mele used to dance hula kahiko. As a result, you’ll hear a lot of chanting-like melodies in Hawaiian of course, by a kumuhula (hula instructor) and sometimes the dancers, as well as finger drumming on the ipu, gourd.
Not all kahiko songs are used to dance to hula because some are used to recite a genealogy, creation myth (such as the kumulipo), or as a call and response. Growing up, it wasn’t uncommon to chant an oli asking permission to enter someone’s space. For instance, in high school, my classmates and I used to chant at the beginning of the day, asking our teachers permission to enter the classrooms. They would reply with an oli of their own to accept us.
However, if we look at it anciently, when Hawaiians approached a home or even an island, they’d blow the pū, the large conch shell, to announce their arrival. Then they would chant, asking permission to enter, land, or come into the space. Those within the space would chant back their reply.
Here is a playlist of some Hawaiian mele used for hula kahiko, or as chants that tell a story, genealogy, or act as a call and response. Many of the names within this list are very popular Hawaiian singers and chanters. Enjoy!
Old Hawaiian Music & Slack Key Guitar
Hawaiian music drifted into auana (auana actually means “to drift or wander,” which is what Hawaiian music has done over time). Kanikapila is a Hawaiian word used to describe anytime a group of people get together to sing and play instruments. Growing up in Hawaii, kanikapila usually happened unplanned. Someone would bring out an ukulele or guitar, and the next thing we knew, we were all sitting in a circle and singing.
Many of the old Hawaiian songs, along with the slack key guitar, feel much like a kanikapila. They’re the songs that are most played on the radio and are beloved, and timeless to the Hawaiian culture. These songs fill me with nostalgia, as these are the songs my own mom would play. She had CDs of Na Leo, Makaha Sons, the Brothers Cazimero, and more.
There are so many hallmarks of each of these groups that I might write an article about how each one has uniquely contributed to what Hawaiian music is today. However, some of the commonalities between the old Hawaiian music is the use of the piano, guitar, ukulele, bass, and singers harmonizing. Every group or musician had their specialities though.
One popular Hawaiian singer, Lena Machado, had a particular talent of holding a note until anyone listening might think she was out of breath. However, Lena would hold the note for an extended period of time and NOT take a breath until she finished the phrase! Fun fact: Later on, Raiatea Helm continued this tradition in her music.
To sum it up, here is a list of some of my favorite traditional and old Hawaiian musicians:
Israel Kamakawiwo’ole
Brothers Cazimero
Dennis Pavao
Na Leo
Makaha Sons
Hapa
Amy Hanaiali’i
Lena Machado
Slack Key Guitar
Slack Key Guitar is another type of Hawaiian music. Some people sing to slack key guitar, but often it is done without singing. To clarify, slack key is simply a different way of tuning the guitar, and artists would pick and strum to well-known Hawaiian tunes. The playlist below is one of my favorite albums of slack key guitar. In addition, here is a brief list of some of the well-known Hawaiian slack key guitar artists:
Keola Beamer
Cyril Pahinui
Sonny Chillingworth
Popular TV & Movie Hawaiian Music
Hawaiian music has made appearances in popular tv shows and movies over the years. While there may be more, I’ve listed below some of the more popular songs that you might think of when it comes to “Hawaiian music.”
Elvis Presley & “Blue Hawaii”
The Hawaiian Wedding Song, Hukilau, Can’t Help Falling in Love, and Blue Hawaii are some of the big hits from the movie, “Blue Hawaii,” starring Elvis Presley. I was genuinely surprised by how many of my Hawaiian friends and classmates adore this movie, because I can’t stand listening or watching it! I guess you either hate or love it!
Disney’s Lilo & Stitch
“Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride” really catches the enthusiasm of the Hawaiian spirit. While I didn’t love the movie, I think they did a great job with the music, even having local artists and choirs record the songs.
Disney’s Moana
The music in “Moana” isn’t Hawaiian or spoken in the Hawaiian language but it definitely has the island and Polynesian vibe!
Braddah Iz “Over the Rainbow”
This is an iconic song featured in many movies! I really enjoy Braddah Iz’s version of this song. While strumming an ukulele, his voice is so soothing and, in many ways, nostalgic.
Recent Hawaiian singers who actively put out new music
These are the current, most recent preservers of Hawaiian music and people I admire for their creativity, knowledge, and sheer talent. From speaking fluent Hawaiian, writing their own lyrics and music, and sharing their love of Hawaii with the world, these artists are truly amazing. I appreciate their contributions to preserving and evolving the Hawaiian culture and music.
I didn’t attach any playlist here, but the playlist in the “Traditional Hawaiian Music” section features many of these artists. So definitely give it a listen! 🙂
Kuana Torres Kahele Hawaiian Music
Kuana has become my favorite artists in all of Hawaiian music over the years. In each of his albums he features a different Hawaiian island or location. He also has a few holiday albums and sang the song “Lava” for Pixar’s short film. He loves making lei and dancing hula, and occasionally does live streams on Facebook. Can’t recommend Kuana enough!
Raiatea Helm
Raiatea is a lot like Lena Machado in style and ability to hold her breath for a long time. However, Raitea’s music is still her own: fun, upbeat, and quite traditional. Highly recommend!
Keali’i Raichel
If you’ve never heard “Kawaipunahele” can you say you’ve listened to Hawaiian music? 😛 This song is played at nearly every big event—weddings, graduations, may day, etc. It’s a classic song for a woman to dance to alone. I can’t even say how many times I’ve heard this song. Keali’i is very talented, and continues to put out new music here and there. Growing up, my mom would play the album “Kawaipunahele” so I recommend that one if you’re just learning about Keali’i!
Weldon Kekauoha
Weldon and I are related somehow haha. I grew up listening to the CD “Hawaiian Man” so that will always be my favorite album of his. He has continued to write music in recent years that is still heartfelt and both in Hawaiian and English. His voice is soothing and the music is relaxing.
Henry Kapono
I’m not as familiar with Henry as my own readers and followers, but he is very active on social media, does a lot of covers, and has a very happy, upbeat personality. Henry does live shows at Duke’s on Oahu, which is awesome considering so few artists go live anymore!
Kalani Pe’a
Kalani has won a Grammy award for the best regional roots music album. His music is both traditional and sometimes contemporary. All his music is in the Hawaiian language too.
Jawaiian or Local Hawaiian Music
There is a category under Hawaiian music called “Jawaiian.” Jamaica (reggea) + Hawaiian = Jawaiian. That’s probably the easiest way I can explain it. Many local artists in Hawaii have captured the beat, rhythm, and vibe of Jamaican reggae music but have mixed it either with Hawaiian language, Pidgin English, or local island culture.
This is the sort of music played on the radio in Hawaii. It’s not quite reggae, but not quite Hawaiian so it’s a mix of both! The playlist below covers it all really well. I enjoy listening to this music when I’m with my siblings, but because the radio and locals seem to play the same songs for years, I’ve gotten sort of burnt out. While I don’t love this type of music anymore, it still carries nostalgia.
Here is a list of some popular Jawaiian artists. Not all of them fit perfectly but these all have the same vibe and would usually perform at local ho’olaule’a performances in the park.
Anuhea
Keahiwai
Kolohe Kai – Cool Down
Ehukai
Opihi Pickers
Rebel Souljahz – Nothing To Hide
J Boog
Common Kings
Sammy Johnson
The Green
Maoli – No One is one of their most popular songs.
Sean Na’auao
Reggae Music
Reggae music originated in Jamaica and is mostly represented by Bob Marley. Many locals enjoy listening to Bob Marley, so I thought it was only fair to feature his work here! This playlist also features some other Reggae artists.
Other Artists Beloved by Hawaiian Islanders
Jack Johnson – A lot of locals have spotted Jack around town and have said he’s really nice. With that said, his music is really great too!
Colbie Caillat – I’m not sure if she’s from Hawaii, but Hawaiians and locals love her music. It’s chill, simple, and meaningful.
Notable Ukulele Players (mostly from Hawaii)
Here is yet another little genre of music in Hawaii: ukulele music. While some ukulele players write their own music, others do covers of music. Either way, they’re all quite talented!
Jake Shimabukuro
Kalei Gamiao
Kris Fuchigami
Taimane
Let’s hear from you!
What is your favorite kind of Hawaiian music? Is there a Hawaiian artist that you love? Let us know in the comments below!
Pono is the Hawaiian word meaning to be righteous, balanced, good, correct, and moral. It encourages excellence, prosperity, and a sense of duty.
Pono may seem like an outdated idea to many, especially in the way it encourages moral and righteous behavior.
But in a world where religion is mocked and morality has all but disappeared, the value of pono has never been more important.
When we live the value of pono, we live a balanced life: with nature, God, ourselves, and others. Our life is filled with ho’omaluhia, peace, because our actions are in alignment with who God needs us to be. A sense of calm overcomes us because that alignment feels well with our na’au, our gut feelings.
Being pono means standing up for the right, even when unpopular or mocked. It’s not easy to stand for truth, especially when we’re alone. But the value of pono encourages us to do so.
Being pono means putting trust in God before man, knowing that righteousness will always have its reward.
How do we further implement the value of pono in our lives?
Learning Pono from Koa Trees
In the high mountains of Hawaii stand forests of beautiful koa trees. Koa trees were so important to ancient Hawaiians, as their sturdy and thick wood were perfect to make strong canoes.
The koa trees known for strength and resilience, hold ground against the elements. They live in difficult conditions, where the high elevation makes it cold, and the humid wind sends a chilly breeze through the forest. They take about 80 years to reach their full potential, but as they grow, they are ever strong.
I had the opportunity to plant koa trees when I joined a high school club. Our club did backbreaking work to plant koa trees in the forests of Mauna Loa. We held a huge pack of koa seedlings on our backs, and an o’o stick in the other hand.
Our instructor told us that most of these seedlings would not make it through the conditions of the environment. But many of them would.
I always thought about this. Pono is much like the strength of the koa trees. It isn’t easy to stand strong and tall against the elements. Likewise, it isn’t easy to stand firm when people question our beliefs and efforts to be moral.
Pono is based on our personal convictions to do good, and elevate all of the human ‘ohana
Planting the koa trees reminded me of my high school life. I was the girl who didn’t swear. I really wanted to be right with God, and since he commanded—as far back as the 10 commandments—that we not take the Lord’s name in vain, I made my decision not to swear. Ever.
I became known as the “goody-good” girl in high school, and classmates would question my decision. Nobody seemed to judge me for it. I felt so strongly about my convictions that my classmates didn’t blink an eye about it. They didn’t follow example–though an effort was always made to stop people from swearing around me. But they did recognize it as a part of a bigger duty and respect to God that I held in my heart. In fact, when we graduated, the valedictorian mentioned me in her talk, saying that if anyone felt lost and needed direction, they could turn to me.
It was shocking. And self-revealing. I don’t share this story to boast. I share this story because being pono is the right thing to do. Even when it’s not popular, when everyone else around us seems to do the opposite thing, when society and communities say that morality is out of style.
Choosing to be pono matters. When we make a conscious decision of how we’ll live pono, we dig our roots deep into the ground and stand strong and tall, just like the koa trees.
How else can we live pono?
Create a relationship with God
Being pono stems from having a relationship with God. If you don’t know who he is or what he commands, how can we be righteous? How can we be right with him?
You can start having a relationship with God right now: through prayer, reading his word, and attending his church. You don’t have to do anything special or make a dramatic life change to have a relationship with God, just start where you are.
Make a decision ahead of time
What kind of person do you want to be? What do you want to be remembered as? When you start with the end in mind, it’s much easier to live a pono life. If you can visualize the kind of person you want to be, how would that change and reshape the way you live now?
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Live Balanced
Living balanced seems like a hard concept to grasp, but it can be made simple. Here is an example I like to use to explain balance: when someone litters the earth, that action throws things off balanced–for nature and the earth. When someone picks and properly disposes of the litter, it restores balance.
The same principle applies to our relationships with God, others, and ourselves. When we have a pilikia (trouble) with someone else, the mana (energy, spiritual relationship) is thrown off balance. We restore the balance in the relationship through ho’oponopono (making things right, correction).
If we want to live the value of pono, we would be wise to take a moment to ask ourselves these questions:
Is my relationship with God balanced?
How is my relationship with others (or enter name here)? Am I doing too little or too much of something?
Is my relationship with myself balanced?
Sometimes we get into the habit of doing too much or too little of one thing–too much social life, too little connections, too much exercise, too little exercise, etc.
When we take the time to look at our life and ask, “Is my life pono–is it balanced?” we can feel what we should improve on. If we’re struggling to know what needs improvement, we can always ask God.
A pono life is a blessed life
The Hawaiian value of pono has deeply blessed my life. Even though I’ve sometimes stood alone in my beliefs and morals, I feel right with God. That’s one of the greatest blessings I could ever feel in this life. Being pono has helped me to feel right with God, and I know it can do the same for you as well. If you’d like to learn more about how to build your relationship with God, check out this wonderful source from my church!
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.
If you want to support wildlife conservation efforts, I highly encourage you to check out Fahlo. When you buy a bracelet from Fahlo, you support a wildlife conservation cause (depending on which animal bracelet you get!) and then receive your very own animal to track! I absolutely love my turtle bracelets, which reminds me to malama the earth. 🙂
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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!
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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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