Ho‘omau is the Hawaiian value of perseverance and persistence. In practicing this value, we become more tenacious and resilient, and thus, more courageous. Ho‘omau also means to perpetuate, and to continue in a way that causes good to be long-lasting. Those who ho‘omau do not give up easily, and they consider mistakes and failure to be temporary conditions from which to learn and move on from.
From Managing with Aloha (Chapter 4 preamble):
Ho‘omau
Persistence, perseverance, and renewal
To continue, to perpetuate. Never give up
Anything worth having is worth working for. Persistence is often the defining quality between those who fail and those who succeed.
There is never much satisfaction in giving up, and Ho‘omau is the value pushing you to continue, to persevere in your efforts by renewing those efforts, and to perpetuate those that worked well.
Celebrate your strengths in the face of all adversity. The obstacles that test you can actually make you stronger.
Ho‘omau. Persist and persevere. Never give up. Cause the good in your life to last.
Continue your learning!
For a brief, single-page listing of all 19 Hawaiian Values of ALOHA within the Managing with Aloha philosophy, see The 19 Values of Aloha.
For more about values and why we choose them, see Let’s Define Values.
This is the Site Index of articles which include HO‘OMAU, with comment boxes for questions, stories, and our continued learning from each other: When people speak, they give voice to values, and their personal expression of them. In Hawai‘i, we call this expression their mana‘o.
Buy the book!
Managing with Aloha is a book designed to be written in, and used as both learning resource and personal workbook. Managing with Aloha is our philosophy bible, and this site can be thought of as the sequel to the book, where you are now the featured star.