In Hawaiian thinking, gratitude is not a seasonal gesture or a polite formula. It is an active force that brings goodness into the world. The word ho‘omaika‘i is defined as gratitude and also as to cause good, to proliferate good, to give life to good. When we express gratitude, when we give thanks, we put good into the world. Gratitude is the act of bringing goodness into being.
We also use the word mahalo, a term that has become as well known and as misunderstood as aloha and ‘ohana. Mahalo has been flattened into a casual “thanks,” a quick verbal nod tossed out like an old coin on a tavern counter. Yet as taught by many kupuna, mahalo carries a deeper meaning. It can be more closely related to respect and honor. To express thankfulness in Hawaiian terms is to offer respect and to show honor.
If gratitude is the act of causing good to flourish, and mahalo is the act of honoring what sustains us, then withholding gratitude is the opposite of strength. It keeps goodness from arising. It withholds honor from those who deserve it. And we do this far more often than we think.
To Think Hawaiian is to recognize that gratitude is a state of mind and a way of moving in the world. It is something constant and continual, not seasonal or situational.
The week of Thanksgiving is the one week in the United States where people normalize expressive displays of gratitude. Yet for the other fifty one weeks of the year, we struggle. The modern world makes daily expressions of gratitude feel difficult. For some, gratitude is seen as a sign of weakness or vulnerability. A chink in the armor built to protect themselves from rejection or judgment. Others fear that expressing thanks may place another person in a superior position and themselves in an inferior one.
This mindset appears even more clearly in the workplace. Gratitude most often flows from employees toward leaders. People say thank you when receiving a promotion and even say thank you when being corrected or asked to work harder. I see this in many industries. But many leaders struggle to express gratitude to their teams for a good day’s work or a job well done. Some fear that doing so weakens their authority or diminishes their leadership.
In reality, it is the withholding of gratitude that displays our weakness. When we fail to say thank you. When we withhold simple acknowledgments. When we avoid saying I appreciate you. When we forget that even a look, a grip, or a hug can carry the same meaning.
Gratitude is not a loss of power. It is the source of it.
If ho‘omaika‘i is the act of causing goodness to flourish, then expressing gratitude is an act of strength. It strengthens relationships, strengthens teams, strengthens communities, and strengthens our own sense of purpose. Gratitude fills another’s cup as ours is likewise refilled.
When leaders express gratitude to those who carry the work, they show honor and respect. When individuals express gratitude to those they love, they expand the goodness around them. When we see gratitude as goodness in motion rather than a concession or a vulnerability, it becomes a tool for growth.
Gratitude aligns us with the Hawaiian way of being. A way of walking through the world in a constant and unending state of gratefulness: for those who came before, for the land that sustains us, for those we share our lives with, and for the lessons placed in our path.
Many of us struggle to accept compliments or acknowledgments. Often we brush them off or refuse to believe we are worthy of them. Accepting gratitude from others strengthens us. It helps us recognize our own value. When we can feel the goodness that gratitude brings, we become more eager to spread that feeling to others.
When gratitude comes into your mind, speak it. Do not wait. The spark of appreciation fades quickly. Whether it is a simple thank you or mahalo, or something deeper like I appreciate you or I am grateful for you, be the first to say it. Use the moment when it arises.
A positive workforce is a productive workforce. When people feel pride, dignity, and accomplishment in their work, both from the work itself and from being acknowledged for it, the entire organization benefits. Leaders who learn to express gratitude create teams that are stronger, more loyal, and more inspired. Try it and watch what happens.
To Think Hawaiian is to walk through life in a state of gratitude. Grateful for our ancestors. Grateful for the land and waters that feed us. Grateful for the people we share life with. Grateful for every challenge and every gift. Gratitude is a practice of honoring, respecting, and giving life to goodness.
When we embrace ho‘omaika‘i and mahalo fully, gratitude becomes not a holiday tradition but a daily act of creation.