The Hawaiian language is integrated into everyday speech here. Aloha replaces hello and goodbye. Mahalo (thank you) springs up on signs—Mahalo for not smoking—and in announcements—Passenger Smith please pick up the blue courtesy phone, mahalo. Kapu (private) enhances the no tresspassing signs posted on fences. In the real estate listings, I discovered that an ohana is a cottage.

But the phrase I like most is Maui no ka io—Maui is the best. So true. Posted by kuri at March 25, 2001 03:28 AM