The word “aloha” is the most recognized of all Hawaiian words. In its simplest use, it means “hello”, “welcome”, or “goodbye”. But the word, to many Hawaiians, can also be used to convey a much deeper and richer feeling, one that encapsulates a way of living, being, and most of all, treating others. This Spirit of Aloha inspires us to do what we do and influences every facet of every tour we offer at Polynesian Adventure Activities.
We wanted to delve further into this particular meaning of Aloha, so we asked Sosefina Tupuola, one of our amazing Call Center Reservation Experts, what the Spirit of Aloha means to her, as well as some of her favorite things to do, see, and eat on the islands of Hawai’i.
Hi, Sosefina! How long have you been a member of the Poly Ad Ohana?
I just recently transferred to Call Center Reservations after being on the wash crew for a week at the end of June. All in all I’ve been here about 3 and a half months!
What is your favorite thing about Hawai’i?
My favorite thing about Hawai’i is everything! I love how diverse our population is because we have so many visitors and people coming to our islands from all over the world. I enjoy our wide selection of different foods and traditions from various cultures. Honestly, nothing beats living in Paradise!
One of my favorite Hawaiian Legends is the story of how Pele and Hi’iaka came to Hawaiki (Hawai’i). It is special to me because it shows how the Hawaiian islands were formed and how Hawai’i came to be. It shows how Hawai’i is connected to all of the other Polynesian Islands in the Pacific.
What does the Spirit of Aloha mean to you?
The Spirit of Aloha is the honor of welcoming and making everyone you meet feel at home. It’s helping someone in need, not for any sort of reward, but simply out of the kindness of your heart. The word Aloha means many things in Hawaiian – a simple greeting or hello but the meaning and intent behind it is to love one another.
What is your favorite “off the beaten path” on the island?
My favorite off the beaten path place to enjoy is Manana Falls Hiking Trail, it’s one of Oahu’s most secluded waterfalls you can actually jump into and swim in. If I feel like staying indoors when I go out my favorite spot is on the Brigham Young University campus. They have on-site game rooms and gyms where the students, staff and their families can go workout, relax or have fun.
