If
you learn just two words in Hawaiian, learn these. They are two of the
most important words in the Hawaiian language, representing paramount
Hawaiian values. In Hawaiian thinking, words have mana [pronounced: mah' nah], meaning spiritual or divine power], and aloha and mahalo are among the most sacred and powerful. Say them often as they can be life-transforming and -enhancing. Be careful to use them ONLY if you truly feel mahalo or aloha within. Do not exploit these words for personal gain, and neither cheapen, nor trivialize their use by verbalizing them carelessly or without sincerity. Aloha and mahalo are ineffable, indescribable, and undefinable with words alone; to be understood, they must be experienced. Deeper meaning and sacredness is hinted at by the root words of these words. Linguists differ in their opinions as to the exact meanings and origins, but this is what was told to me by my kupuna (elder): On a spiritual level, aloha is an invocation of the Divine and mahalo is a Divine blessing. Both are acknowledgments of the Divinity that dwells within and without.
Aloha
[Alo = presence, front, face] + [hâ = breath] "The presence of (Divine) Breath."
Mahalo
Think of them as single-word blessings or prayers.[Ma = In] + [hâ = breath] + [alo = presence, front, face] "(May you be) in (Divine) Breath." The following are dictionary definitions using English words, which are approximate translations, at best:* |
|
|
Aloha. 1. Aloha, love, affection, compassion, mercy, sympathy, pity, kindness, sentiment, grace, charity; greeting, salutation, regards; sweetheart, lover, lover, loved one; beloved, loving, kind, compassionate, charitable, lovable; to love, be fond of; to show kindness, mercy, pity, charity, affection; to venerate; to remember with affection; to greet, to hail. Greetings! Hello! Good-by! Farewell! Alas!
"Mahalo. 1. Thanks, gratitude; to thank.
2. Admiration, praise, esteem, regards, respects; to admire, praise, appreciate.
One of the most frequently requested translations is:
Aloha au iâ `oe.
[ah loh' hah vau' ee (Y)AH' oe] I love you. |
||
Ke aloha nô me ka mahalo kâua!
Aloha indeed with mahalo to you and me! |
Immediately, by my use of the term "movies", you know I am not a Film Snob. I also did not grow up in the era before "movies". Even as I write this, Blogger is questioning my use of the term by underlining it with a red squiggly line, but that's what I call them, movies! So, sue me if you don't like it. People used to only see celebrities in still shots printed in magazines before the age of television. Then, they would go see them at the "movie theater", after hearing about it on the radio. Nobody ever called them Film Theatres, did they? The word "film" is really a description of the medium by which we are enabled to view "movies" rather than it being a description of the experience of watching still pictures transformed into motion. So, I'm sticking with "movies", but I am not opposed to calling them motion pictures. For the "purists" out there that insist on using the word "film&qu
Comments
Post a Comment