Aloha! Are you in need of some rest and relaxation from work? Do you find that no matter where you go, you are reminded to love? While visiting Hawaii, all I wanted to do was turn off work, social media, and anything except relaxing and recharging as my bucket has been empty from over work and life stresses. I find out in my wanting to relax, hearts of coral seem to find my eye in the sand, they were scattered along paths in our journey to see a lighthouse, and while walking barefoot along the turquoise waters of the sea.

The thing about love is…the group that I traveled with also started finding coral heart rocks and got really excited to share with me they found them. Especially the children we were with! Almost as though they were excited to share the love they found in the symbolic nature of the sea. As I reflect on my trip, I now see that no matter where we go or what we are trying to accomplish, love always bubbles up to the surface of the sea… Aloha is a form of greeting, to say hello, welcome. But it’s also a form of farewell, or to say goodbye. It’s also used as an expression of love and affection.

The Spirit of Aloha is:

Akahi – kindness to be expressed with tenderness

Lokahi – unity to be expressed with harmony

Oluolu – agreeable to be expressed with pleasantness

Haahaa – humility to be expressed with modesty

Ahonui – patience to be expressed with perseverance

I learned a lot about the culture of Hawaii, and how love is always the anchor in the sea of love…Aloha!