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As the world not so slowly emerges from travel lockdowns,
social-distancing and the seemingly endless cycle of work from home Zoom calls,
social and political discontent and takeout (lots and lots of takeout), we must
recognize that the world we rejoin is one that is different in ways that herd
immunity alone cannot overcome. We need
Aloha.
During the height of the Pandemic, we retreated to our own
corners of the world both physically and philosophically, in person and
virtually, pulled by the gravity of those closest to us in body and in thought. Kupuna were isolated, our Keiki disconnected,
and our families separated – with birthdays, weddings, and births all
celebrated distantly, quietly, and virtually.
Even as the promise of mass vaccinations emerged, our Healthcare
workers and support staff are departing the profession in staggering numbers as
preventable surges in hospitalizations combined with staffing shortages further
tax an already exhausted workforce. Reopenings and latent demand for travel and dining service have exposed hospitality
workers to a barrage of misbehavior as well. Restaurants now do not close because they cannot survive financially. Instead,
they close because their staff must recover mentally and emotionally from the
flood of rude and demanding customers.
From lockdowns to vaccines, re-openings to new variants, as
a people, we have been pulled under and thrown around from wave after wave of
virus as if stuck inside on a big day at Waimea Bay. We are more divided than ever, more
exhausted, burned out, and on edge than ever and to top it off, it has been a
year and a half since we had a conversation with a stranger that wasn’t in the
comment section of Jason Mamoa’s latest Instagram post.
Combined, these are a most potent recipe for disaster, yet it
is in these moments of adversity that we in Hawaii are most well equipped to
thrive. Here in Hawaii, the melting pot
of cultures, philosophies, ethnicities and the home of celebrated diversity, we
have Aloha.
Per the Hawaii Revised Statutes 5-7.5,
“Aloha” means mutual regard and affection and extends warmth
in caring with no obligation in return.
“Aloha” is the essence of relationships in which each person
is important to every other person for collective existence.
As we return to a changed world, we may be different, we may
be a little rough around the edges and a little rusty at socializing, but we
are all in this together. A little
patience, understanding and a lot of Aloha can go a long way.
Practice Aloha, give Aloha and show Aloha and our new world
will be better for it.
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