The Power of Community 

I am grateful to live on the side of the island that was untouched by the fires but the ripple effect has been felt by everyone here. Hawai’i’s economy is largely sustained by tourism which has significantly dropped since the fires. Many local businesses are still trying to recover from 2020 and the fragility of relying on tourism has many questioning if there is another way. And although local businesses are hurting, the outpour of generosity has been incredible to witness. Local restaurants have been donating meals to displaced families and volunteers, shops and boutiques have opened their doors for fire victims to come in and take what they need while other businesses have been donating a portion of their sales to people who lost everything. 

The community here is so strong. The speed at which the people came together in the wake of the fires to mobilize and get supplies to those in need far surpassed the aid that came from the outside. And when ‘authorities’ blocked supplies from getting through, the people went by boat and private plane to get the job done. Throughout all of this, one thing has been made abundantly clear: islanders are resilient heart-centered people who can govern themselves. 

Hawaiian Culture & The Aloha Spirit  

The Aloha Spirit is the root of Hawaiian culture. Aloha is more than a word used as a greeting and way to say goodbye, it is a way of life. The Aloha Spirit is so highly valued that it is actually a state law to treat people with the same care and respect as their ancestors did. 

I personally love this quote by Eddie Aikau that summarizes the essence of the Aloha Spirit beautifully. He says