Some say that Mahalo means thank you, but it is much more. Many tourist may think Mahalo means trash, because the islanders put mahalo on trash cans, but mahalo does not mean trash. Basically, the islanders are thanking people in advance for caring for the islands. Mahalo is a word of praise, regard, admiration, esteem, gratitude, a prayer and a blessing. The concept of "Mahalo," is living with a grateful heart for the blessings we so abundantly receive from God and through His children; it is the essence of Thanksliving. This is a recognition of our Divine Nature. For decades, I have signed my correspondence, "Mahalo, Donna," as a sign of kind regard and blessing those who took the time to read the words from my heart.
Why would I chose to use Mahalo? Find out, read theTalk Story.
Talk Story:
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Hawaii is imprinted in my heart and soul. Children do not get to choose where they get to grow up, I was not an exception. The time and place we grew up becomes part of who we are. So here, I talk story...
In 1961, my father was working as a civilian for the Naval Air Warfare Station in Indianapolis, Indiana. They were closing his department and he was given an opportunity to take a contract job working for the Navy, in Anchorage or Hawaii. I had just started first grade. Faced with more cold or the tropics, my parents chose Hawaii. My dad had been hired by the department of the Navy to test missiles in Hawaii.
So, we packed up our things​. My dad bought a new aquamarine blue Ford Gal​axie Sunlighter convert​​able (292 VB engine). We drove south to Kentucky to visit my father's family. Then we drove west​ to California, touring the great vast continent. We drove across Arizona, we went to the Grand Canyon, up to Las Vegas, and then ​to Southern California (including Disneyland) and south to Tijuana. Then North to the Bay Area.
​We caught a military transport plane from Travis Air Force Base to Hickam Field on Oahu. This was a Air Force C 121 (propeller airplane and not a jet); our flight was 11.5 hours, in seats that faced the rear of the plane. I can remember clearly hearing the pilot as we flew over the Big Island at night. He announced we were flying over the Big Island of Hawaii and would soon be landing on Oahu at Hickam Field. I was pretty upset. I can remember calling my dad out, said he had lied to me, we were not going to Hawaii, we were going to somewhere called Oahu. He then told me that I did not want to live on Hawaii, because that was the island where there were live.
We landed at Hickam Field, just after 10 PM, Honolulu time, on my mother's 32nd birthday, in October 1961. We were greeted by two sailors and a black limousine to drive us to Lualualei Naval Ammunition Depot, where we would live until April. Our new home was an old World War II Quonset hut. A Quonset hut is portable house, made of corrigated steel, curved as a roof. Our was raised on stilts, about four feet above ground. This way during the rainiest rainy seasons we would be lifted above water on the ground. When we arrived in Hawaii, the state was suffer​ing from a shipping strike and it was some time before our household goods arrived.
My father had the opportunity to re-sign a contract with the Navy, as a civilian employee, about every three years, to work for the Navy in Hawaii. I was thousands of miles away from extended family. So, family and American culture had little imprint on my growing up. I attended public schools in Hawaii, from first grade through high school graduation and my first three semesters of college. In Hawaii, in my youth, I joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Though I am not Hawaiian by birth, Hawaii is still part of who I am, Hawaii is my culture, I was raised in ​Hawaii's schools, on ​Hawaii's beaches, and in ​Hawaii's mountains. The culture of Hawaii is the only culture I really knew growing up and it helped shape who I am today. So, when I say Mahalo, I am sh​aring a grateful heart and a blessing to you, my readers.
How has the culture of your youth impacted your life?
​More Talk Story later...
