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There's a Law in Hawaii That Says You Have to Be Nice to People

Oct. 20, 2018
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2 min read
hawaii nice to people
There's a Law in Hawaii That Says You Have to Be Nice to People
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Telling someone he or she "must think and emote good feelings to others" might sound like the kind of truism a SoulCycle instructor would say at the end of class. But it is, in fact, an actual law in Hawaii. It's called the "Aloha Spirit" law, and it's encoded in the Hawaii Revised Statutes, Section 5-7.5.

"The Aloha Spirit is the coordination of mind and heart within each person," the law declares. "It brings each person to the Self. Each person must think and emote good feelings to others. In the contemplation and presence of the life force, Aloha, the following unuhi laulâ loa (free translation) may be used."

  • Akahai, meaning kindness to be expressed with tenderness;
  • Lôkahi, meaning unity, to be expressed with harmony;
  • Olu`olu, meaning agreeable, to be expressed with pleasantness;
  • Ha`aha`a, meaning humility, to be expressed with modesty;
  • Ahonui, meaning patience, to be expressed with perseverance. (HI Rev Stat § 5-7.5, 2013)

In layman's terms, be nice or leave.

Seeing as how the Hawaiian archipelago comprises some of the most remote islands in the world — more than 2,900 miles from the nearest continent — it makes sense that a concept such as "aloha" came about. For decades, Hawaiians had to get along with each other because there was simply nowhere else to go. The law became official in 1986, but it's ingrained in the culture there.

According to the BBC, "the consequences are real" if you don't act with Aloha Spirit. It's symbolic for the most part, but the people of the island take it as words to live by.

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And Jeremiah Felsen, owner of Kauai Hiking Tours, said it's more of a way to "preserve [the] Hawaiian culture of friendliness and openness and have it on record for everyone to know," and that the law is not actually enforced.

So during your next trip to the Aloha State, you'll know that the word is more than just a simple "hello" and "goodbye."

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  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

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  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
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  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
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  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
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