Most people think of “aloha” as the Hawaiian word for hello and goodbye. But the more time you spend in the islands, the more you realize aloha refers to much more. Aloha is a way of living in harmony, of showing respect, gratitude, and compassion for others and the environment around us. Aloha is not something you can see or touch. It’s more something you can feel in your interactions with others.
We came to understand and embrace the spirit of aloha during the fall and winter of 2021, as we were restoring The Aloha House. The place had good bones, but it needed a ton of work–both cosmetic updates and structural repairs.
Being new to Hawaii, we didn’t know hardly anyone. On top of that, the pandemic was still going strong, and the global supply chain was all out of whack.
You could say the odds were against us.
But we were fortunate to meet one and then another and finally a whole crew of folks who embraced the restoration of the property with as much enthusiasm as we had for it.
For all of us, rejuvenating the place became personal. The carpenters and electricians and plumbers and painters who came to work quickly recognized the old house as being special, a relic from the island’s past. They were as honored to work on it, as we were honored to have them on the project.
There may have been shortages of materials and appliances and other such things. But there was no shortage of aloha in our crew. And it was that spirit which propelled us and saw us through.
It seemed only fitting, then, that we should name the place The Aloha House.
Our hope is that visitors will feel the aloha, too. Whether you are dining with friends, catching shade from the giant mango tree, or listening to the musical sound of Waikomo Stream. The spirit is all around you. You only need to embrace it, and pass it on.