THE aloha spirit truly lives. A total of 156 people answered when we asked "What is aloha?" at the start of the Aloha Festivals. The winner of our contest, Darice Suan from Waianae, came up with the answer, "Aloha is ... Thinking like a duck. Let everything roll off your back."
Her answer was handed over to Poi Pounder Hawaii -- the company that originated the "Aloha Is ..." concept and line of T-shirts and gift items -- to be illustrated. Suan will receive the original illustration shown above, created by Poi Pounder artist Brian Ito, as well as a Poi Pounder Hawaii T-shirt .
"I have a thing for ducks," said Suan, "so I knew my answer had to involve ducks. To me, ducks are real laid back. I think that's a good way to live."
Two runners-up will also receive T-shirts. They are Don Tsark of Kaneohe and Inga Park Okuna.
Tsark's entry read, "Aloha is ... Feeding your out-of-town friends ono grinds until they drop."
His response stems from experience. "I have friends from Tahiti. When they came to visit I took them to the Pagoda for the buffet dinner where they ate a lot. Afterward I took them to a bar, kind of karaoke, with even more food.
By Ken Sakamoto, Star-Bulletin
Winner Darice Suan, with daughter
Kamalu who holds her favorite duck.
"These guys weigh about 300 pounds each but afterward couldn't eat anymore."Okuna apologized for getting a little carried away, submitting 12 definitions of aloha, including "kissing all the aunties and uncles," but the one that really stood out was, "Aloha is ... giving your 'still nice' lei to a tourist."
She, too, writes from experience. "I used to do puppet shows for children and every time I went to a school I would get leis. I didn't want to waste them so I would go down to the airport or shopping malls and give them to tourists.
"I would say, 'Aloha! Welcome to Hawaii!' "
"My friends told me I was crazy or asked, 'You're not really going to do that are you?' but people really appreciated getting the leis, so it was a nice way of sharing. Otherwise, the flowers would not have fulfilled their purpose."
Okuna spent a lot of time on her answers, because, she said, "I really believe in the aloha spirit."
After spending time on the mainland, she said, "Here, you can talk to people anywhere. I can go into a store and ask 'How do you cook this fish?' and people will answer. On the mainland, if you do the same thing people will give you dirty looks."
As a counselor at Manoa School, Okuna also enjoyed Suan's answer, describing it as a positive cognitive therapy statement.
"Cognitive therapy says you can affect feelings by changing your attitude. If you're driving and someone cuts you off and you say 'What a jerk!' you're going to get angry.
"But if you think, 'Oh no, that person must be late for work,' then you'll feel more compassion. That's my approach to life."
"You can't say, 'He made me mad.' It's your choice."
In addition, Okuna says that studies have shown 5 minutes of anger will lower the body's immune system response for 6 hours.
And that's a good reason to live aloha.
Also receiving Poi Pounder calendars for their classrooms will be teachers Nancy Jackson at Mililani Uka School and Paul Good of Dole Middle School, in recognition of their students' group entries.
Following are more responses -- sorry we could not run them all --defining "Aloha is ...: Visions of Aloha
Timely
"... Talking story about what you'll do if elected and not talking stink." -- Nancy Jackson
Giving
"... Kokua given to all (kamaainas and malihinis) with plenty 'pili care' for 'dat kine' help!" -- Robert Fujita"... Doing something good that comes naturally (from the heart) and not because you have to." -- Karen Kiyonaga
Similar opinions were also voiced by Ruth Caris,
Jane Fujinaka, Randall Joyo, Daniel Kauleinamoku,
Vaughn Kunishige and Shirley WatGrace in rush hour
"... Being courteous on Hawaii's roads." -- Myrna Sugiyama"... The shaka sign and a smile when changing lanes in rush-hour traffic." -- Janine Masaki
Poetic
"... Like a lei that circles the earth, that leaves an everlasting fragrance and sensitivity. Aloha is a culture of our own. Feel at home! Shaka." -- Noel S. Villanueva"... Leaving a trail of smiles." -- Michael Kobashigawa
Food
"... Giving a plate of food to the homeless at Magic Island or anywhere." -- Donna Moore"... Sharing a spam musubi with a friend." -- L. Akana
"... Spam musubi." -- Bea Carter
Culture
"... Leaving your rubbah slippahs at the front door." -- Gloria Takami"... A glass float coming in on a wave to wait atop the sand for me." -- Pat Le Long
"... The spirit of the Hawaiian people -- diverse in origin -- united under the common motto, 'Imua.' -- Gerrold T. Adler
"... The essence of Hawaii, our aina, our culture, our people." -- Iris Fujisue, whose return address was on a sticker adorned with the rainbow design Hawaii license plate reading, "Aloha"
Considerate
"... Never being a NIMBY (not-in-my-back-yarder) whenever humanity is at risk," "Not getting into the (supermarket) Express lines unless you have less than eight items" and "Always disposing of litter at public gathering places." -- Robert Rapoza"... Sharing your 'come early' curbside seat with the Japanese couple trying to take parade pictures." -- Margie Nygren
"... Respecting the aina and everything on it." -- Pat Fukuda
Pets, friends and family
"... My pooch eager to give me a face bath after a hard day at work." -- Roxanne Mita" ... What you receive when you pick up your child (keiki) from pre-school." -- Art Freedman
... "Extending a helping hand to your enemy or someone you don't like." -- Eunice Hirata
... "Saying from the heart welcome, we care, we love you, until we meet again." -- Linda Medallia
... "Sharing your favorite hobby with someone you love." -- Sandra Kaneshiro
..."Giving love to others and treating others like they want to be treated, not teasing." -- Patty Rupinen, from Nancy Jackson's third grade class at Mililani Uka School
Mysterious, but understood
"... A silent "wow" and a cordial smile when blessed with a sight to behold. -- E. Mendes
Beyond Hawaii
"... Even though I am not in Hawaii, I realize that for the upbringing that I have had within our culture, the Aloha travels with me everywhere." -- Jeanette Sarris
Lastly
... "Free! Take it while supplies last." -- Kim Kahikina
Book signing
What: Brian Ito will sign the Poi Pounder 1999 calendar "A Year of Aloha"
