Aloha State

The islands, blessed with a mild climate all year round, are described as the "Crossroads of the Pacific Ocean," and have a culture that is a mix of various elements, including the indigenous Polynesians, Asians, and Caucasians. The unique exotic atmosphere attracts many tourists. Also known as the "Aloha State," the Hawaiian word "aloha," which is used as a greeting of welcome and farewell and an expression of affection, symbolizes the spirit of the residents. Many of the things that Hawaii created, such as surfing, which Captain Cook witnessed in 1778; the muumuu, which was invented by missionaries to help women change their waists; Hawaiian music, which uses the ukulele, which was derived from the machete (a type of guitar), a folk instrument brought by Portuguese workers to sugarcane plantations (incidentally, the lyrics of "Aloha 'Oe" (meaning "I send you my love" and "Goodbye") were written by Queen Liliuokalani, the last queen of the Kingdom of Hawaii), and bright, primary-colored aloha shirts, all speak of the character of Hawaiian culture, which is called a "melting pot of races."

*Some of the terms mentioned in "Aloha State" are listed below.

Source | Heibonsha World Encyclopedia 2nd Edition | Information

…　一年中穏やかな気候に恵まれた島々は〈太平洋の十字路〉と形容される位置にあって，先住民であるポリネシア系をはじめ，アジア系，白人系などさまざまな要素が混交した文化をはぐくみ，その独特の異国情緒が多くの観光客を魅了している。別名〈アロハ･ステートAloha State〉と称され，歓迎･別離のあいさつや愛情の表現にも用いられるハワイ語の〈アロハ〉ということばが，住民の気風を象徴している。1778年にキャプテン･クックが目撃したサーフィン，渡来した宣教師が女性の腰みのを改めさせるために考案したムームー，サトウキビのプランテーションで働いたポルトガルの労働者が持ちこんだ民俗楽器マシェーテ(ギターの類)が原形となったウクレレを用いるハワイアン音楽(ちなみに，《アロハ･オエ》(〈あなたに愛を〉〈さようなら〉の意)はハワイ王国最後の女王リリウオカラニ女王自身の作詞になる)や明るい原色のアロハ･シャツなど，ハワイが生みだしたものの多くが，〈人種のるつぼ〉と呼ばれるハワイ文化の性格を物語っている。…

※「Aloha State」について言及している用語解説の一部を掲載しています。

出典｜株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典 第２版について | 情報