Skip to main content

Mahalo

Aloha & Mahalo
[Pronounced: ah loh' hah & mah hah' loh]
pronunciation guide
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
[Ma = In] + [hâ = breath] + [alo = presence, front, face]
"(May you be) in (Divine) Breath."
Think of them as single-word blessings or prayers.
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!
    • Aloha `oe!
      [ah loh' hah oe!]
      May you be loved or greeted!
      Farewell or greetings to one person.
    • Aloha kâua!
      [ah loh' hah KAH'oo (w)ah!]
      May there be friendship or love between us!
      Greetings to you and me!
    • Aloha kâkou!
      [ah loh' hah KAH' kou!]
      same as above, but to more than one person.
    • Ke aloha nô!
      [ah loh hah NOH']
      Aloha indeed!
    • Aloha!
      [ Ah loh' hah!]
      Greetings!"
"Mahalo. 1. Thanks, gratitude; to thank.
    • Mahalo nui loa.
      [mah hah' loh noo'(w)ee loh'(w)ah]
      Thanks very much.  
    • `Ôlelo mahalo
      [OH' leh loh mah hah' loh]
      compliment
    • Mahalo â nui
      [mah hah' loh (W)AH' noo'(w)ee]
      Thanks very much.
2. Admiration, praise, esteem, regards, respects; to admire, praise, appreciate.
    • `O wau nô me ka mahalo,
      [oh vau NOH' meh kah mah hah'loh]
      I am, [yours] respectfully,
    • Ka mea i mahalo `ia, Laki
      [kah meh'(y)ah ee mah hah'loh ee'(y)ah, lah' kee]
      The esteemed Laki."
*Source: Pukui, Mary Kawena & Elbert, Samuel H., HAWAIIAN DICTIONARY, University of Hawai`i Press, Honolulu, 1986.
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!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Fruit & Armor

In response to a post of the image above by someone   I only recently me t.  For those I've never met, then this is for you too. Wear the armor, and bear the fruit These two things in common in the common war The war within each one's soul Faith and peace are the ties that bind Fruit and armor on the body of our minds... Your soul, your spirit, these inseparable terms Speak of a place that is one in the same That place from within going out to others By the outward sign of what you do and how you react This is the battle we fight every day We start with ourselves, reaching others this way There are six pieces of armor And, nine pieces of fruit This speaks to balance In the peaceful pursuit For in the preparation for war We make peace in defense Carry on young War rior & Warrioress Your time is well spent Ephesians 6:10-18 Galatians 5: 22-23
Post a Comment
Read more

Obama Phone

Dear President Obama, It is now 2016.  The next election is just a few days away, and your final term in office will conclude soon as well.  In 2008, I had a dream.  I dreamt I was in the Rose Garden having a conversation with you when you reached inside your coat pocket and gave me your cell phone telling me to call you.  I started to call you, but then I realized I had your cell phone.  So, how could I possibly call you if I had your phone?  I called the switchboard instead, and then I woke up. I woke up in 2008 to a life on the streets of Athens, GA.  This is ironic since I never imagined myself living on the streets, homeless, unemployed and somewhat hopeless; and after growing up on the Golf course in a middle class American lifestyle.  After three years on the streets, I finally got a job in 2011 where I remained until 2014.  Then, I became homeless again after serving six months in jail.  In the time since then, I have had thr...
Post a Comment
Read more

PABz

It says, I don't cause trouble, but I will correct it. If it is within my power, I will correct a troubled situation, as I did last night while enjoying some semi-solitude, at one of my favorite spots while doing this puzzle pictured. After all, they don't call them frat "boys" for nuthin'. Aptly put, they are boys, not men that tend to grow older, but often times, their behaviour remains boyish, which can be admirable, if you're not a childish, obnoxious, asshole. Of course, living in this college town of my Alma Mater, the University of Georgia, I have been able to recognize certain behaviors before they are exhibited. Different from being prejudice, it is more of an educated guess that something may occur that is less than desirable for the peace loving people of the world, like myself, but I am not a Peace Junkie believing firmly in an Army motto a soldier wore printed on his t- shirt one day several years ago, while I was, of course, sitting at the bar ...
Post a Comment
Read more