Brown Bag Lunch Talk to Explore Meaning of ʻAlohaʻ

Ilima DeCosta. Courtesy photo.

Ku‘ikahi Mediation Center will host a free Brown Bag Lunch talk by Ilima DeCosta exploring the meaning of ʻalohaʻ and how the word is currently used under the Hawai‘i Revised Statues.

The talk will be on Thursday, Feb. 21, from noon to 1 p.m. at the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney in Hilo located at 655 Kilauea Avenue.

“‘Aloha’ is a way of being or doing business and governance, and not just a word for commercial and media purposes,” said Ilima. “To pledge ‘Aloha’ is to actively demonstrate Akahai (kindness), Lokahi (unity), Oluolu (agreeableness), Ha‘aha‘a (humility), and Ahonui (patience).”

DeCosta will also share information about the “I Pledge Aloha” community action during the talk.

DeCosta was born and raised in Kane‘ohe and is focused on reducing interpersonal violence and increasing health in the community. She is a graduate of Kamehameha Schools and received her bachelor’s in Political Science from University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. An avid gardener and conservationist, DeCosta is responsible for the HMSA Homeless Innovation Project that helped launch the “housing as healthcare” initiative.

The talk is part of the centerʻs “Finding Solutions, Growing Peace” speaker series held every third Thursday of the month.

For more information, visit www.hawaiimediation.org or contact Ku‘ikahi Program Coordinator Majidah Lebarre at (808) 935-7844 ext. 3 or majidah@hawaiimediation.org.