Aloha means love.

Maui. My impressions are still too fresh to make any sense of them. This is my country and yet, not my land. Hawai'i is a cultural and geographic entity onto itself. In a way, Hawai'i is culturally more a colony than a state, as these polynesian islands were overthrown and rule by the United States forced upon the native population. It is the only state in the Union to have two official languages, English and Pidgin. Beneath the beauty and aloha is a history of pain.

I am a haole, for sure. But I fell for your beautiful charms, dear Maui, yes I did. I hope I have the pono that I might one day be accepted a tiny bit into your heart, as well. I dove from Black Rock (and, no, you will not see the photo of my fine cankle-y self doing so, thank you very much). I will be back. If for no other reason, to visit my son, whose heart you stole and who cried upon having to leave your shores. He has already been inspired to quit school, get a job as a waiter and craft a shack from leaves and plastic sheeting near the Honolua surf break. Pele, we stole your land and you capture our sons in return. To be expected.