Imagine arriving in Polynesia. You unexpectedly meet a native man and want to shake hands, but instead you’re surprised that he comes into your personal space and embraces you warmly. On top of this man hug, you get a few solid pats on the back.
This is a customary greeting to visitors from one man to another in Polynesia, according to Roger E Axtell, author of many cultural literacy books. Love and life are two important aspects of greeting from the islands. Everyone knows the greeting “Aloha” from Hawaii. Did you know that aside from ‘hello’ and ‘goodbye,’ the word also means ‘love’?
The Polynesian Cultural Center has an online newsletter that updates webizens about what’s going on around the island nations. The site also has blurbs and bits about Polynesian culture and events.
For example: “Most other Polynesians use a greeting word that falls into the ‘life”‘category. For instance, when a Maori from New Zealand says kia ora or a Tahitian bids you iaorana, he’s really wishing you ora — life! Incidentally, Samoans sometimes say soifua for goodbye, which is really a respectful way of saying ‘live!’”
With such a warm way to embrace a stranger, as well as a culture of expression love and live to one another, I sure would like an island vacation. And you?
Tags: greetings, Hugs, impressions, Polynesia, relationships, Ways to Say Hello
March 31, 2008 at 4:41 am
One of my best friends was a Samoan named Justin. He was a huge man (400+ pounds) who suffered from narcolepsy. I was incarcerated in a minimum-security boy’s home at the time, and he was the only one who actually cared about me. Even though his job was to supervise and control me, his humanity and yearning to understand was apparent. His cousin worked there too. His name was Illema and he was a pro NFL athlete with the San Diego Chargers franchise. I would make fun of him and say he was an extra from the film “Planet of the Apes.” It is only through Allah’s guiding hand that he did not crush my face and send me to an early grave.
September 1, 2008 at 4:01 am
Have you heard of the hugging saint? http://www.amma.org/