Driving with Aloha

Aloha may have been misunderstood and manipulated at times. In the context of driving, however, it’s a great influence. Driving with Aloha makes it possible for me to enter an endless stream of traffic, and to offer that same opportunity to others. It also makes it possible for me to walk across a busy street. It has been the Aloha that made it possible for me to learn our streets without going home in a puddle of tears or a bundle of angry knots.

Coming from the mainland, it’s tougher for folks to catch on to what’s happening. The idea of road courtesy is foreign and a bit idealistic, it seems. They have to be shown by patient example. I’ve even had Aloha extended to me when I didn’t extend Aloha. Several times, I haven’t seen a pedestrian or vehicle because the rear view mirror or widow frame blocked them from my view until I passed. Rather than giving me the Hollywood Hello or scowling at me, those folks have smiled as I passed on by in my oblivion. Now that’s Aloha.

Granted, there are times when it can become a problem. If I’m turning left, and I wave a person to my left to come ahead and enter my lane of traffic from the intersection, I need to be darn sure that no one behind me has decided to go around me. I’ve stood at a crosswalk where a car refused to move until I crossed. I didn’t want to cross the street, but they wouldn’t go unless I did. That’s much less problematic than being plowed down in a crosswalk; I’m not complaining. I just have to request Aloha from another vehicle to get back across the street.

It’s nice to experience the awareness that we are all in this thing together. We’re all trying to get somewhere, hopefully in a short period of time, and no one is an obstacle to that objective. Compared to the bumper car derby of the mainland, driving on the islands is a congenial event.
Driving with Aloha means extending patience and making some allowances. It’s defensive driving with a smile. I wish it would catch on elsewhere. Nowadays it’s a good idea to handle our buckets of bolts with care. Generally, the contents are under pressure.