As always, after my three- to four-month stay on Maui, I leave with a laughing and a crying eye. I consider both Maui and Switzerland home. Not only because I have family in both places but because I truly feel at home in both Switzerland and the Hawaiian Islands, especially on Maui.
This year after Maui was hit by tremendous fires, I was saddened. I felt the overall low energy of the island with so many people losing their lives, their homes, their jobs, or all three. Everyone knew somebody who was affected. The undecidedness of the government and the conflict between the different parties – the electric company, the politicians, and the insurance companies didn’t help but rather generated more harsh feelings.
Driving my car around the island, I encountered quite a different attitude in the driving style than in the past. It seemed not that different from the big cities on the mainland or in Europe. The drivers seemed aggressive and impatient. I wondered, where has all the ALOHA gone?
When I first came to Maui, 15 years ago, I learned to be patient while driving. There were no blowing horns when I didn’t start immediately when the light turned green, no passing when the driver in front of me stopped to chat with a pedestrian, no snatching away the parking lot from someone who was already waiting. People were smiling, giving way, were polite, and very friendly. In Switzerland, this behavior was found only in the countryside, where people would greet each other on their shopping tours or hikes, but not in bigger cities, where people are generally self-serving and maintain anonymity.
The friendly, considerate attitude in the Hawaiian Islands is called the ALOHA spirit. Aloha has many meanings besides hello, bye-bye, and love. It also means to be respectful, friendly, and patient towards everyone you meet or cross. Aloha is a lifestyle, which I felt when visiting Maui. This allowed me to relax, to enjoy myself, be friendly, and offer a smile to others. Overall, the ALOHA spirit spread a peaceful atmosphere across each island and is probably a part, of why Hawaii is referred to as “Paradise.”
Now, it seems to be so different. There is no longer an uplifting spirit in the air with laughter and joy. Where has all the ALOHA gone, I ask myself?
I got sad, almost a little depressed, until I realized why I felt this way. When I became conscious of it, I had a choice: do I want to let the current tone of the island pull me down or do I want to stay happy and friendly? I deliberately chose the latter. I decided to smile at the grumpy salesperson and ask her how she was doing. I waited patiently in line and started to talk to someone who seemed unhappy. I stepped aside and would let someone pass when I saw they were in a hurry. I would yield to a driver and let him in. In short, I would try to live ALOHA myself as best as I could.
It was interesting to see what happened with the people. People started to smile back. Drivers would wave gratefully. A cashier would say thank you when I asked how she felt. People would start telling me their stories, and I would learn why they were unhappy or tired. Life became very rich for me, taking part in other people’s lives. I stayed happy and fulfilled. I started to grasp what ALOHA really might mean. So, if the world is unhappy the remedy is to spread happiness, not gloom, spread joy, not sadness, send out smiles not present a worried face, send love, not hatred. You might think, but how can you if you lose so much, when things are really tough? Yes, indeed, it isn’t easy to stay positive.
Nevertheless, I heard a man who lost his house, his job, and many close relatives say, “Thank you, thank you, I am still alive, thank you for the friends I still have, thank you, I am able to go to a new place and start all over.”
In cases where the darkness is the deepest, it is possible to see the light shine bright since the contrast is so great. Following this little light might lead you out of the darkness. It might just be that little light you find to lead you out of distress and pain.
After all, ALOHA is still alive. If you want to find it, be part of the solution and spread it everywhere you go and to everyone whose path you cross.