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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
 Posted - 07/26/2007 : 06:48:31 AM
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| I can only aspire to learn and practice true aloha. THAT, my friends, is what I like about Hawai`i, Hawaiian people, Hawaiian music, Hawaiian history, Hawaiian culture. That is why stories such as Kevin shared with us about Uncle Keli`i touch me so deeply. That is why celebration of the adoption of a little boy gets posted on here; that is why one of our friends feels he can share his pain in losing his young grandson. Even if some of us are not even one drop Hawaiian blood, we are learning about aloha through practical experience. |
Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
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hapakid
Luna Ho`omalu
USA
1533 Posts |
Posted - 07/26/2007 : 09:27:19 AM
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While I love Hawai'i and the concept of aloha, kindness and generosity are human traits found in every culture. When things are pono among people, the spirit of aloha exists. Sadly, there isn't enough justice (pono) in the world.
Jesse |
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cpatch
Ahonui
USA
2187 Posts |
Posted - 07/26/2007 : 10:47:08 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by hapakid
When things are pono among people, the spirit of aloha exists.
I'd say that when the spirit of aloha exists, things are pono among people. The difference is whether you put the responsibility on yourself to make a difference or put it on others. |
Craig
My goal is to be able to play as well as people think I can. |
Edited by - cpatch on 07/26/2007 10:47:28 AM |
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Retro
Ahonui
USA
2368 Posts |
Posted - 07/26/2007 : 11:08:20 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by noeau
I am compelled to remind myself and others about the danger of looking away when an injustice happens under our noses.
Mmmm, indeed.
First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left
to speak out for me.
~~~ Pastor Martin Niemöller, written in reference to WWII (there are many variants of the poem - Google away to read them - but you get the point. ~~~ |
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thumbstruck
Ahonui
USA
2168 Posts |
Posted - 07/26/2007 : 12:21:29 PM
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Human history is a litany of the powerful overwhelming the powerless.
The good qualities I've encountered among the Hawaiian community (ans those interested in the culture) my folks would have called "old country". Hapakid is right. North American English speaking culture is based on innovation and novelty-- it drives commerce. It's not necessarily a bad thing, look at the innovations in musical instruments. We feel loss because many things are overrun that could be better appreciated. Because of geography, Hawai'i has held more traditional culture longer than other parts of the US. Connection with the past is something we all should value, but many of us aren't able to connect with our antecedants because of lost info, change of language etc. Our connection with Hawaiiana allows us the luxury of observing a continuum, plus really great music and ono food. |
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alika207
Ha`aha`a
USA
1260 Posts |
Posted - 07/27/2007 : 12:09:23 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by hapakid
Ha!
Too funny, Alika!
Jesse Tinsley
Aloha mai!
Jesse, you took my comment exactly as I wanted Hiram to take it, but Hiram, I hope you didn't take it the wrong way. I wasn't trying to hurt your feelings in any fashion.
The word aloha is more than just a word that means hello and goodbye. It expresses love and friendship between the people in the conversation. For instance, let's say you and I were in fact gonna practice. It would be very likely that I would start off the conversation by saying, "Aloha kaua!" (E kala mai, the kahako doesn't want to show up. Hahaha!) The "kaua" part means "to both of us" or "to you and me," so translated, it would mean "Hello to you and me! / May there be love and friendship between us!" This is used when it is only you and one other person speaking to each other.
The same type of thing would be said if, let's say, Jesse was added to our little conversation. However, the word kaua would be changed to kakou (with another kahako in it, sorry) which means all of us and is used when three or more people are present.
I hope you have an idea by now of how important the word aloha is in the Hawaiian language. I also think that it is important to keep the language and culture going as much as possible. That's why I'm always looking for new folks to practice with or just share aloha with. And I'm finding plenty of those types of people on here already! I love this place so much! Mahalo to all of you for your support and (sorry, Hiram, if you're getting annoyed with how many times this word has appeared here, haha!) aloha.
A hui hou, (until we meet again),
'Alika |
He kehau ho'oma'ema'e ke aloha.
'Alika / Polinahe |
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Russell Letson
`Olu`olu
USA
504 Posts |
Posted - 07/27/2007 : 07:43:01 AM
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There's a point at which an adopted word gets treated as a natural-born member of the linguistic family--both UK and US English have many examples of this (it was a standard topic in basic linguistics courses back when I was teaching). It's not a consistent thing--note the different ways that UK and US speakers say the French loan-word "garage," for example. Some Hawaiian words would seem to have been thoroughly absorbed into standard US English and get US pronuciations--"ukulele" (sans okina) is one, and "Hawaii" (ditto) is another. Which pronunciation or written version one uses will depend on the context and audience.
Over the last forty-odd years I've lived around or hung out with various folk whose English is exotic by the central New York standards I grew up with--NYCitians, Texans, Mississipians, Minnesotans, Northumbrians, Hawaiians--and because I too am a decent (and compulsive) mimic, I've absorbed bits and pieces of their speech into my own. So I have to make an effort not to appear to be inserting myself into their linguistic-cultural space in an unwelcome way. In fact, as much as I love dialects (which I studied long ago and still use in my class-clown role), I make a point of talking in a restricted version of my "authentic" voice (midwestern, middle-class, educated American) rather than the more colorful and playful variants whose music I love. But I refuse to give up the fragments of Yiddish, Southern, Canadian, and Geordie that have welded themselves to my nervous system. Oh, aye and oy veh, eh?
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Edited by - Russell Letson on 07/27/2007 08:31:01 AM |
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markwitz
`Olu`olu
USA
841 Posts |
Posted - 07/27/2007 : 08:34:07 AM
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Oh, aye and oy veh, eh?
That's gotta be one of the funniest lines I've heard in a long time. Talk about a cultural identity crisis. Ach du lieber, y'all......as my step-daughter in Texas might say. |
"The music of the Hawaiians, the most fascinating in the world, is still in my ears and
haunts me sleeping and waking."
Mark Twain |
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hikabe
Lokahi
USA
358 Posts |
Posted - 07/27/2007 : 11:12:03 PM
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| Thanks Andy... |
Stay Tuned... |
Edited by - hikabe on 07/27/2007 11:12:56 PM |
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alika207
Ha`aha`a
USA
1260 Posts |
Posted - 04/13/2008 : 01:52:56 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Retro
quote:
Originally posted by hikabe
Some people have the gall to behave childishly, like Alexandria, and don't realize they have insulted me and others. Alexandria insist and practically demands that we enable her fanaticism.
Hiram - you are aware that `Alika (I am assuming that is to whom you are referring) is a teenage girl who is STUDYING `olelo Hawai`i, as well as other aspects of Hawaiian culture and music? She actually gives a damn about the subject, and wants to do things right - much more so than most tourists. No one has more zeal than the convert, I've often been told. Have you never experienced that kind of intense interest amongst your `ukulele students who are not kanaka? To even suggest that her desire for accuracy has any semblance of a racist motivation is, at the very least, irresponsible.
quote:
I am an unhappy hawaiian constantly subjected to veiled racism. For many years I have been apathetic. Now I am old enough and brave enough to express how I really feel. It is a negative impact that I am going for. Just something I thought I'd say to you guys.
I have seen that negativity in many of your posts. It's got some anger behind it, for sure.
It's not my place to say whether or not you should *feel* that anger - but I am comfortable saying that I do not appreciate how you regularly express it here. If you are old enough to express it, you are undoubtedly old enough to know how to control and focus it. I hope you are not also teaching or performing with such a message; if you are, I will take it as a sign to stay away from you, your lessons, and your performances.
I know that this, too, is a topic that has been enactive for a while, so e kala mai. Sometimes I go back and look at stuff I've posted over the past year and then see stuff I didn't really look at when it was first posted. So, I just wanted to say, mahalo for standing up for me, Greg. Unless, is there something wrong with trying to do things pololei that you're trying to tell me about? I jus like make shua la we stay on da same page k?
Shoots! |
He kehau ho'oma'ema'e ke aloha.
'Alika / Polinahe |
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alika207
Ha`aha`a
USA
1260 Posts |
Posted - 04/13/2008 : 02:02:24 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by hawaiianmusicfan138
quote:
Originally posted by hapakid
Ha!
Too funny, Alika!
Jesse Tinsley
Aloha mai!
Jesse, you took my comment exactly as I wanted Hiram to take it, but Hiram, I hope you didn't take it the wrong way. I wasn't trying to hurt your feelings in any fashion.
The word aloha is more than just a word that means hello and goodbye. It expresses love and friendship between the people in the conversation. For instance, let's say you and I were in fact gonna practice. It would be very likely that I would start off the conversation by saying, "Aloha kaua!" (E kala mai, the kahako doesn't want to show up. Hahaha!) The "kaua" part means "to both of us" or "to you and me," so translated, it would mean "Hello to you and me! / May there be love and friendship between us!" This is used when it is only you and one other person speaking to each other.
The same type of thing would be said if, let's say, Jesse was added to our little conversation. However, the word kaua would be changed to kakou (with another kahako in it, sorry) which means all of us and is used when three or more people are present.
I hope you have an idea by now of how important the word aloha is in the Hawaiian language. I also think that it is important to keep the language and culture going as much as possible. That's why I'm always looking for new folks to practice with or just share aloha with. And I'm finding plenty of those types of people on here already! I love this place so much! Mahalo to all of you for your support and (sorry, Hiram, if you're getting annoyed with how many times this word has appeared here, haha!) aloha.
A hui hou, (until we meet again),
'Alika
A couple follow-ups:
a - akahai
l - lokahi
o - 'olu'olu
h - ha'aha'a
a - ahanui
Which reminds me, Andy, is there a stage on here called "ahanui?" Has anyone reached it yet? How many posts do you need to have to get there? Over 1,000, I assume.
(sings)
Aloha is a promise,
The sun will shine again.
Bringing fresh hopes and dreams,
With each new day that begins.
Aloha is the sunlight,
Shining through the darkness,
Giving strength, giving strength,
To all we do.
(Moe Keale) |
He kehau ho'oma'ema'e ke aloha.
'Alika / Polinahe |
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