Title: “Aloha”

Scriptures: Mark 7: 24-37

9/07/03 10th Sunday after Pentecost

Rev. Joy R. Haertig

To be perfectly honest, when the worship board met this summer and it was first suggested to have Homecoming Sunday be “Hawaiian”, I was afraid it sounded to trendy for worship.  The first image that came to mind was a bunch of folks in church wearing Hawaiian shirts drinking Mai Tai's!  But within moments others at the meeting seized the idea and focused on the word “Aloha” in a way that helped me to begin to build a bridge.  Since then I have been doing some reading and have come to understand the richness of the concept of “Aloha” and in turn, a better understanding of Hawaiian spirituality in general.  In fact I am not sure there could be a better word to express the truest intent of a “Homecoming Sunday” than the word “Aloha”.  “Aloha!” is so much more than just a warm hello!  

I have learned that there are two words that are the most important in the Hawaiian language, “Aloha” and “Mahalo”.  These words represent the central values of the Hawaiian culture.  In Hawaiian thinking, words have spiritual or divine power and these two words are considered among the most sacred and powerful.  Both of them are undefinable in that words fall short in describing their full intent, they are meant to be a way of life that encompasses many things.  

Let us consider their root words:

Aloha is an invocation of the Divine.  “Alo” means presence, front, face and “ha” means breath.  Thus from the root words, Aloha is defined as “The presence of (Divine) breath.”

“Mahalo” (ma-ha-lo) is a Divine blessing.  “Ma” means In, “ha” means breath and “alo” (again) means “presence, front, face”.  Thus from the root words, Mahalo means “(May you be) in (Divine) Breath”.

Aloha and Mahalo are single word prayers or blessings that embrace the receiver with God's presence and affection.

When one seeks to define Aloha via the dictionary with English words the following are some of the many words used:

Love, affection, compassion, mercy, sympathy, pity, kindness, sentiment, grace, charity; greeting, salutation, regards; sweetheart, lover, loved one; beloved, loving, kind, compassionate, charitable, lovable; to love, to show kindness, mercy, pity, charity, affection…“A

“Aloha” can be so much more than just a word!  It can be a way of living in the world, just like proclaiming you are a Christian.  It can be just a word or a “title”, or it can be a way of living in the world.

According to Curby Rule, a writer for “Aloha International”, the Aloha spirit was taught to children of the past in very specific ways.  The following is from an early teaching: “Aloha is being a part of all, and all being a part of me.  When there is pain - it is my pain.  When there is joy- it is also mine.  I respect all that is as part of the Creator and part of me.”

A code of ethics was taught to children by using Aloha as an acronym.  A, ala - watchful, alertness; L, lokahi, working with unity; O, oia'i'o, truthful honesty; H, ha'aha'a, humility and A, ahonui, patient perseverance.  

A Hawaiian elder named David Bray says that to the Hawaiian of old, Aloha meant “God in us”.

To learn the cherished meaning and depth of the concept of “Aloha” and how easily it connects with what I know about Jesus, has saddened me even more to recall that our earliest missionaries to Hawaii did not respect the cultural spirituality and traditions of its people.  I am grateful that some years back, the President of the UCC made a formal apology to the people of Hawaii for our disrespectful actions in those early years.

As I understand it, to live “Aloha” is to live “Christ-like”.  Aloha and Mahalo, as blessings, affirm our connection to God and to one another.  Aloha as a way of life is to show love and practice compassion and kindness, these values are at the root of our faith.  In today's reading from the Gospel of Mark when Jesus heals both a young girl who is sick and a deaf man - we can hear what it is to live in the spirit of “Aloha”.

To have an “Aloha” Homecoming Sunday is colorful and playful, yes, but it is ALSO to reaffirm what we are all about as people of faith.  It is a time to reconnect with one another after a summer of coming and going.  It is an affirmation of why we gather in this place.  “Aloha Sunday” affirms the Divine blessing within and around each of us and all creation.  It is an opportunity to recovenant with one another and with God in our commitment to Christ-like living which value's mercy and compassion, service to those in need and a commitment to broaden the circle of healing and care.  Our covenant means that we will pray and support one another through the seasons of life.  It means that we are committed to providing a place for our young people to grow and flourish as God's children, learning not only the stories of our faith but the values we cherish and that our world needs to see in action.  Our covenant means that we will break bread and drink from the cup in remembrance of Jesus the Christ whom has shown to us the ultimate meaning of a covenantal relationship: that we give of our selves to the world out of love because God has first loved us.

I have come to understand that Aloha can mean so many things - and it is all in the way it is said or who says it.  It can be as simple as hello or goodbye, it can be as wonderful as “I Love You” or a beautiful affirmation that “God is with you and within you”. It can be just a word or it can be seen as a way of living with all creation that is humble; respectful and compassionate.  On this Aloha Homecoming Sunday it is all these things.

“Aloha, my friends.”

(Resources used: www.huna.org and www.geocities.com and the kind help of Jeff Jacobsen who is from Hawaii)