Hawai'i is one giant melting pot. Our state is a blend of so many different cultures — and within that culture lies the "Aloha Spirit."

The Aloha Spirit is not something that is tangible. It's a feeling, a way of being, and a valued part of Hawai'i's soul. It's said to be the coordination of mind and heart as people promote positive actions toward one another. It is, in essence, Hawai'i's unique version of common courtesy or civility and the golden rule: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

The Aloha Spirit is Hawai'i's trademark identity, hence our state's nickname, "The Aloha State." But where did all the aloha go? It seemed to be such a prevalent feeling when I was a little girl. But now, it appears only once in a while. It used to be such a contagious feeling. Now it seems that we're immune to what little is left.

If our Aloha Spirit here were to be lost forever, Hawai'i simply would not be the same. It should then be our goal, as we encourage "sustainability," to work to rekindle and sustain our Aloha Spirit so that future generations have the opportunity to enjoy this unique aspect of our culture.

While it's difficult to say precisely why our Aloha Spirit seems to have faded, one could speculate that there are three major factors that have helped contribute to its decline.

First, there is the media. It's a huge facet of society that keeps everyone connected. But little by little, Hawai'i's unique cultural identity is lost in a commercial-heavy atmosphere that promotes material values above anything else. The brunt of the blame falls on the shoulders of the entertainment sector of the media as the young and impressionable are greatly influenced by what they see and hear when it comes to entertainment. With kids consciously and unconsciously buying into popular trends that do not teach or include the Aloha Spirit, its existence fades.

But the influence of the media is not such a problem because of the many adult role models kids have these days, right? This is not always the case. With Hawai'i's high cost of living, providing the basics of food, clothing and shelter is the ultimate goal of most parents and guardians who are the main line of influence for their children. In many cases, this means working more and spending less time at home. As a result, children spend hours watching television or surfing the Internet, which can influence their behavior. Aloha Spirit is not something that is often displayed on TV or the Internet.

Aside from the factors contributing to the decline in kids and youth, adults are losing the Aloha Spirit because of our fast-paced society, which seems to grow faster every day. Consider cell phones, instant messaging, BlackBerry devices that make you completely accessible. With speed and technology come less consideration for others and more for oneself. Selfishness definitely does not embody the Aloha Spirit.

So what can we do to combat these factors, you ask? Well, the simplest solution is to teach kids at an early age the values that are encompassed by the Aloha Spirit. During the early years, the media's influence is minimal and parents have more of an opportunity and obligation to be around. As for the efficiency issue, it is difficult to ask that everyone slow down because time really is money in this world. But if we constantly keep ourselves aware of the Aloha Spirit and its decline, hopefully we will be more vigilant in our pursuit to regenerate it.

So when was the last time you held the door open for another person? When was the last time you put your hand up in thanks to the person who let you merge in traffic? When was the last time you went out of your way to do a good deed for no other reason than to be kind and spread the Aloha Spirit?

It's the big and little gestures of courtesy that will help to regenerate the Aloha Spirit among youth and adults. We must regenerate the omnipresence of the Aloha Spirit to maintain Hawai'i's identity as the state of Aloha. If it were to disappear, Hawai'i's distinctiveness would disappear as well.

Marcie Kagawa, an 'Aiea resident, is a junior at 'Aiea High School and a member of The Advertiser's Teen Editorial Board.