Omotenashi: Hawaii's Past, Present and Future

About eight years ago I stayed the night at my friend, Mami Bun's, house for the first time. Her mother, who was from Japan and knew very little English, made a great effort to treat me with kindness, converse with me when possible, and she even offered me a bag of treats when I returned home. Until the year they moved away from Hawaii, whenever I stayed the night at Mami's house, Mrs. Bun made sure that I was comfortable and always sent me off with a treat. Through my visits to Mami's house, I received my first glimpse at omotenashi, or hospitality.

Alissa Torigoe is a 16-year-old junior at Sacred Hearts Academy. She has attended Sacred Hearts Academy since the age of five and looks forward to her graduation in 2010. Alissa is an active participant in the school band, where she is a percussionist. Also, she has been playing the piano since the age of six. She enjoys sailing and other outdoor activities. Alissa plans to attend a 4-year college in hopes of furthering her knowledge in the Japanese language as well asdeveloping her skills as an aspiring musician.

During the plantation days, the diverse blend of ethnicities present was the perfect setting for the beginnings of Hawaii's status as a melting pot. The many cultures such as that of the Filipinos, the Chinese, the Portuguese and of course the Japanese, brought together their cuisine, language and traditions to create a culture unique to Hawaii. Most important of all was the tradition of hospitality, omotenashi in Japanese. Through hospitality, these cultures were able to open their arms to one another and bring each other into one another's homes. With families being open to one another, cultures were introduced and it was through hospitality that Hawaii came to be.

In Japan, it is considered impolite to show up to a host's house without a small token of appreciation. One who does forget is considered tebura, or empty handed. In Hawaii, we can greatly compare this to a local tradition, potluck, when each person at a gathering brings a dish to share with everyone. Every year, my uncle and aunty host a Christmas party and the food table is as varied as the wrapping paper on the gifts. Dishes include vegetables, fish, chicken, noodles, and possibly more dessert choices than dinner choices. Each family brings something to contribute and recipes to share and pass on. Just as the first immigrants to Hawaii shared their many dishes and cultures with one another, the members of my family get together every year at Christmas to share new culinary ideas and tasty recipes with one another.

Not only on a familial level, Hawaii's hospitality is known across the world as the "aloha spirit". Aloha can mean love, peace, compassion and even hello or goodbye. Known as the Aloha state, Hawaii opens its arms to denizens of every country just as the first immigrants to Hawaii opened their minds to each other's cultures. The hospitality of the first immigrants has created the "aloha spirit" that Hawaii is famous for.

In the future, I see omotenashi continuing to affect the "aloha spirit" in great ways. Hawaii has made its industry on tourism and relies on hospitality. As soon as tourists arrive in our paradise, they are greeted with leis at the airport. They are greeted with the omotenashi of Hawaii that has been passed down for generations and has developed into our "aloha spirit;" loving and welcoming all who grace our Hawaii. Omotenashi will help build friendships and support the acceptance of different cultures as Hawaii continues to blossom like the lei presented to all those who visit. Through the forbearance of the first immigrants Hawaii has created its own melting pot that today has developed into a unique culture based upon the cultures of many countries. We continue to develop this culture and this aloha so that our descendants can continue to remember the tradition of omotenashi.

I am proud to live in a state of hospitality. I am proud to be of fourth generation Japanese descent. I am proud that my great-grandmother and great-grandfather brought their own omotenashi to a Hilo plantation in the early 1900s. They were among the many innovators of the "aloha spirit" that we have all come to know and use in our everyday lives. In honor of my ancestors, I will continue to convey the "aloha spirit" and the tradition of omotenashi to all.