Aloha
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2008-07-13T13:57:00Z
Gerritholl
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in English
{{otheruses}}
[[Image:alohatoweratnight.jpg|thumb|250px|The phenomenon called the ''Aloha Spirit'' inspired the naming of [[Aloha Tower]], which has greeted vessels to port at Honolulu Harbor since [[September 11]], [[1926]].]]
'''''Aloha''''' in the [[Hawaiian language]] means ''[[affection]]'', ''[[love]]'', ''[[peace]]'', ''[[compassion]]'' and ''[[mercy]]''. Since the middle of the 19th century, it also has come to be used as an [[English language|English]] greeting to say ''[[wiktionary:Goodbye|goodbye]]'' and ''[[hello]]''.
It is also the [[state nickname]] of Hawai{{okina}}i, the "Aloha State".
==Etymology==
The word ''aloha'' derives from the [[proto-Polynesian language|Proto-Polynesian]] root ''*alofa''. It has descendents in other [[Polynesian languages]], such as the [[Māori language|Māori]] word ''aroha'', also meaning "love."
A [[folk etymology]] claims that it derives from a compound of the [[Hawaiian language|Hawaiian]] words ''alo'' meaning "presence", "front", "face", or "share"; and ''ha'', meaning "breath of life" or "essence of life." Although ''alo'' does indeed mean "presence" etc., the word for breath is spelled with a macron or kāhako over the a (hā) whereas the word aloha does not have a long a.
==Usage==
Before contact with the West, the words used for greeting were ''welina'' and ''anoai.'' Today, "aloha kakahiaka" is the phrase for "good morning." "Aloha {{okina}}auinalā" means "good afternoon" and "aloha ahiahi" means "good evening." "Aloha kākou" is a common form of "welcome to all."
In modern Hawai{{okina}}i, numerous businesses have aloha in their names, with more than 3 pages of listings in the O{{okina}}ahu phone book alone.
==Trends==
Recent trends are popularizing the term elsewhere in the United States. Popular entertainer, [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] star and [[Hollywood]] actress [[Bette Midler]], born in Honolulu, uses the greeting frequently in national appearances. The word was also used frequently in the hit television drama ''[[Hawaii Five-O]]''. The Aloha Spirit is a major concept in ''[[Lilo and Stitch]]'', a very popular [[Disney]] series of movies and TV shows, set in Hawai{{okina}}i. [[Lost (TV series)|Lost]], shot in Hawai{{okina}}i, has a thank you note at the end of the credits saying "We thank the people of Hawai{{okina}}i and their Aloha Spirit". Aloha is a term also used in the [[Nickelodeon (TV channel)|Nickelodeon]] program [[Rocket Power]]
Arguably the most famous historical Hawaiian song, "[[Aloha 'Oe|Aloha {{okina}}Oe]]" was written by the last queen of Hawaii, [[Liliuokalani|Lili{{okina}}uokalani]].
The term inspired the name of the [[ALOHAnet|ALOHA Protocol]] introduced in the 1970s by the university of Hawaii.
==See also==
*[[Peace]] has a similar meaning.
*[[Salaam]] has a similar meaning.
*[[Shalom]] has a similar meaning.
==References==
*{{cite book
| last = Andrews
| first = Lorrin
| authorlink =
| coauthors = Noenoe K. Silva; Albert J. Schutz
| title = A Dictionary of the Hawaiian Language
| publisher = Island Heritage Publishing
| origyear = 1865
| date = 2003
| isbn = 0896103749
}}
*{{cite web
| title = Hawaiian Dictionary
| work = Ulukau On-line Hawaiian dictionary
| publisher = University of Hawaii Press
| date = 2004
| url = http://wehewehe.org/
| accessdate = 2008-04-22
}}
*''Hawaiian Telcom White Pages''
*{{cite web
| title = Māori Dictionary Online
| work = Māori Dictionary
| publisher = John C. Moorfield
| date = 2008
| url = http://www.maoridictionary.co.nz/
| accessdate = 2008-04-22
}}
*{{cite book
| last = Pukui
| first = Mary Kawena
| authorlink =
| coauthors = Samuel H. Elbert
| title = Hawaiian Dictionary
| publisher = University of Hawaii Press
| origyear = 1957
| date = 1986
| isbn = 0824807030
}}
==External links==
*[http://www.to-hawaii.com/aloha.php Aloha Facts]
[[Category:Hawaiiana]]
[[Category:Hawaiian words and phrases]]
[[Category:Greeting words and phrases]]
[[Category:Parting phrases]]
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[[es:Espíritu Aloha]]
[[fr:Aloha]]
[[he:אלוהה]]
[[ja:アロハ (挨拶)]]
[[nds:Aloha (Hawaii)]]
[[no:Aloha]]
[[ru:Алоха]]
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