
Ulle (Tiiu’s mom as if you couldn’t tell!), Tiiu, Mark and Frank
I began our blog posts on Maui with the word Aloha and will end it the same way. Why? It’s not just because the word Aloha means both hello and goodbye. It’s because Aloha is more than a word. Aloha is a way of life.
When we arrived two-and-a-half months ago, we wondered what “living” in Hawaii might be like. Yes, we will always remember Hawaii’s beauty but the thing that will stick with us even more is the beauty of the people we met. In them, we experienced the true Spirit of Aloha.
The Spirit of Aloha is all about mutual regard and affection. It means extending warmth and caring with no obligation in return. From the cheerful waitresses at our favorite breakfast spots to the helpful cashier at the grocery store to the kind-hearted church ladies who kept asking us to take up the gifts(!), we were always treated warmly. Every day we looked forward to the friendly neighborhood “regulars” and dedicated lifeguards at the community pool.
But most of all, the Spirit of Aloha was exemplified by our gracious hosts. From day one with Tiiu to weeks later with Mark, they both treated us like ohana (family). They opened their homes to us. Together we shared wine, meals and laughs. Frank and I will never forget their warm hospitality and friendship.
The ancient priests explained the Spirit of Aloha, “When you live the Spirit of Aloha, you create positive feelings, energy and thoughts, which are never gone.”
And never forgotten. Mahalo and Aloha.