Aloha kākou!
The true essence of "Aloha" is much more than a simple "Hello," "Goodbye," or "I love you." Aloha is a lifestyle that is portrayed in the way we walk, how we talk, interact with others and how we behave. If we dig even deeper, there is a story that tells the tale of Hāloa, son of Papa and Wākea (Earth Mother and Sky Father), whom was born prematurely and unfortunately passed away at birth. After the child was buried, a shoot grew in its place, which Wākea named Hāloa, the first taro (kalo) plant. The word Hāloa can be looked at as a respelling of the word "Aloha" and is translated as "far reaching," "long breath" or "waving stem," while kalo was a staple food in the Hawaiian diet. In the way that kalo sustains us, so does Aloha; not just nutritionally but medicinally. And as with all plants, kalo provides us with oxygen. Simply put, the gift of LIFE.
