What does the phrase 'Hawaiian at Heart' mean?
              The phrase refers to those who are not of Hawaiian descent but have a 
          strong inner connection to the Hawaiian Islands, the culture and also 
          have a passion to help preserve the 'aina (land). These inner feelings 
          embrace your heart and soul and makes you feel you need to pursue 
          more knowledge of the Hawaiian people, their history, language and 
          even sign up for a hula lesson.

         Are you Hawaiian at Heart? 
               Have you experienced any of the following:
          Feel a longing to be in Hawaii? Feel compelled to learn the Hawaiian 
          language? A desire to take a hula class and try to explain these
          feelings to friends or family and they just don't understand what you
          mean? If you have had these strong emotions and acted on them, you
          probably are "Hawaiian at Heart'.
                    
        You are not alone! Here is my story. 
          In 1996 I was introduced to Hawai'i for the first time. I loved the movie
          South Pacific so my husband booked our honeymoon on the island of
          Kaua'i. I had never heard of this place and didn't know what to expect. 

          After we returned home, I could not stop thinking about Kaua'i. It was 
          calling to me to come back. I worked at the time with a gal who was 
          born and raised on the island of Moloka'i. She explained to me that the 
           'Aloha Spirit' had planted its seed in my heart and was pulling on my 
          heartstrings. After that first trip, I had the passion to learn the 
          Hawaiian language, took a hula class and read about the history of the 
          islands. 
 
          It's not an easy task to talk about what was happening to me. People 
          either knew what I was feeling or they didn't. Some people told me 
          the Hawaiian language didn't exist or were certain no one really speaks 
          Hawaiian. My well-worn Hawaiian dictionary written by Mary Kawena 
          Pukui shows that they are very wrong. I felt pretty alone in justifying 
          my feelings to friends and family, but I knew this was real,something
          spiritual happening to me, a girl originally from Indiana now residing in 
          Arizona. 

          The 'Aloha Spirit' is a way of life for me. It's how you treat people and 
          situations in a new light that you have not seen or experienced before. 
          I have met Hawaiians on our visits to the islands who appreciated the 
          fact that I took the time to learn the language and try to understand
          what their people face in regards to homestead land and sovereignty. 

          Hawaiian music has also become a part of my daily life. There are many
          songs that express this calling to the heart as if it is a loved one 
          beckoning you to return home. It gives me a sense of how the 
          Hawaiians must feel when they leave the islands for jobs elsewhere.

          This my fellow 'Hawaiian at Heart' is one of the reasons I started this 
          website. It's for every one who is looking for a connection, to feel free 
          to express how this energy has become a part of everyday life! Why 
          doesn't it happen to everyone? I feel it has to do with being open to 
          spiritual enlightenment, change and experiencing beyond what you 
          already know and believe in. For those of you who ventured to check 
          out this website.
                             
        E Komo Mai - Welcome Home!
        Rodney & Trisha