From Kaua’i with Love
I’ve come to find that saying, “Oh I’m from Kaua’i, HI” is one of the easiest conversation starters.
I was lucky enough to grow up there with my dad, left for Wellesley College, and returned for about two years as a young professional. In sharing about my home, I’m always met with excitement and curiosity. For many, Kaua’i, HI evokes images of tropical reefs, smiling beach bums, bright orange sunsets, and rainbow shaved ice. It’s paradise: outdoor activities, a sense of adventure at every turn, and idyllic weather year round.
But Kaua’i is so much more. It’s the people and sense of care shared across race, socioeconomic status, religion, educational background, and political identity that make Kaua’i such a special place. We call this extended care the Aloha Spirit, which envelopes our daily actions and informs our contributions.
The Aloha Spirit in short is an overwhelming sense of warmth and love extended to community members of all ages and the land we live on. It necessitates stewardship for the communities you’re active within and awareness of Hawaiian cultural values and norms. You feel the Aloha Spirit in the water surfing, see it in the soft smile of your neighbor welcoming you home, and express it in slow thoughtful goodbyes to loved ones.
The Aloha Spirit is what I miss most about home when away. And so I try to bring a little of the warmth and leadership associated with the Aloha Spirit into the new spaces I frequent.
I was lucky enough to grow up there with my dad, left for Wellesley College, and returned for about two years as a young professional. In sharing about my home, I’m always met with excitement and curiosity. For many, Kaua’i, HI evokes images of tropical reefs, smiling beach bums, bright orange sunsets, and rainbow shaved ice. It’s paradise: outdoor activities, a sense of adventure at every turn, and idyllic weather year round.
But Kaua’i is so much more. It’s the people and sense of care shared across race, socioeconomic status, religion, educational background, and political identity that make Kaua’i such a special place. We call this extended care the Aloha Spirit, which envelopes our daily actions and informs our contributions.
The Aloha Spirit in short is an overwhelming sense of warmth and love extended to community members of all ages and the land we live on. It necessitates stewardship for the communities you’re active within and awareness of Hawaiian cultural values and norms. You feel the Aloha Spirit in the water surfing, see it in the soft smile of your neighbor welcoming you home, and express it in slow thoughtful goodbyes to loved ones.
The Aloha Spirit is what I miss most about home when away. And so I try to bring a little of the warmth and leadership associated with the Aloha Spirit into the new spaces I frequent.