Ha`aha`a, the Quality of Humility

Community Contributed

Opinion by Rick Baptiste

We are on the fourth phase of our joint efforts in renewing the “Aloha Spirit” in our community so we all can live blessed lives on Molokai. The fourth phase is the letter “H” in the acronym of “ALOHA” with “H” standing for Ha`aha`a, the quality of humility expressed with modesty.

The definition of humility taken from Webster’s Dictionary is, “The quality of not thinking you are better than other people.”  Before I go deeper, I hereby ask anyone reading this for forgiveness, in the event I have come across to you in a high makamaka attitude.  I am on a journey of walking the talk and so I am challenging myself to exemplify Ha`aha`a.  I try to remember that when I am pointing my finger at someone there are three fingers pointing back at me.  The bottom line is we are all works in progress. So, forgive me, pray for me, and then get over it.  Mahalo.  The essence of humility is we are all valuable and special in some way so we are to communicate this every day and in every way to all those that come our way.

On Easter, many in our community are about to celebrate the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus as per 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.  At the cross, Jesus became the supreme model of humility.  Phil 2:5-8 New King James Version, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”

According to Matthew 28:6, “He is Risen” and so the good news is our Ha`aha`a model is alive.

Philippians 2:4-5 Amplified Bible, “Let each of you esteem and look upon and be concerned for not [merely] his own interests, but also each for the interests of others. Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus. [Let Him be your example in humility].”

Remember Molokai, you’re too blessed to be stressed.