The translation of ‘Imi ola is “to seek life.” As our value guidance, ‘Imi ola teaches us that our purpose in life is to seek its highest possible form, and create it when we need to. In managing with Aloha, ‘Imi ola helps us craft our best possible life in business as the value of mission and vision. In living with Aloha, ‘Imi ola fosters optimism and a proactive inventiveness in us, fueling the fires of our creativity.
From Managing with Aloha (Chapter 3 preamble):
‘Imi ola
To seek life
Our purpose in life is to seek its highest form
With Ho‘ohana, you have explored your passions and defined your purpose. ‘Imi ola urges you to seek the highest possible form for that purpose, connecting it to the many possibilities life potentially holds for you.
‘Imi ola is; ‘imi, to purposely seek, ola, life with spirit. As a value it teaches us that our larger, all-embracing purpose in life is to seek its highest form for us. You have choices, and you are able to make the best choice, designing the form your life will take.
‘Imi ola places the ability to achieve your purpose in your own hands, giving you the clear understanding that you have the power to create your own destiny.
The value of ‘Imi ola seeks life at its very best.
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 ‘IMI OLA, 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.