I can be a bit of a skeptic at times. I desperately want hilina’i (pronounced: hih-lih-nah-ee) or to believe or to trust, in people. Or maybe I’m not a skeptic…but too naive in thinking that kindness should be the norm. And because it is not these days, I’m always surprised when someone is kind. 

Just this morning, I arrived at the hair salon and as I sat down to get my haircut started, I realized I couldn’t find my mobile phone. As I went to my car outside to see if I left it there, I got the incredible scent of basil. That is when I stopped to “smell the basil” and noticed that the house next door to the salon had this beautiful garden of basil…lots of it. The owner was outside and was picking the lovely basil and when I complimented her on her garden, she kindly shared some of her basil with me. 

Why did this surprise and delight me so much? I think it’s time for an attitude adjustment on my part…hilina’i more in people. In the end, isn’t that what aloha is all about? 

Do you hilina’i in something deeply? What is it?

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