Aloha in all Polynesian languages and always with the same basic meaning of: love, compassion, sympathy and kindness although the use in Hawaii has a seriousness lacking in the Tahitian and Samoan meanings. Its beginnings may be seen in the Maori definition as "love of kin". Mary Kawena Pukui wrote that the "first expression" of "aloha" was between a parent and child. The word has become a part of the English vocabulary in an awkward misuse. The term is now part of English vocabulary. "The Oxford English Dictionary" defined the word as a "greeting" like "welcome" and "farewell" using a number
Greeting be expressed both audibly and physically, and often involve a combination of the two. This topic excludes military and ceremonial salutes but includes rituals other than gestures. A greeting, or salutation, can also be expressed in written communications, such as letters and emails. Some epochs and cultures have had very elaborate greeting rituals, e.g. greeting a sovereign. Conversely, secret societies have often furtive or arcane greeting gestures and rituals, such as a secret handshake, which allow members to recognize each other. In some languages and cultures, the same word or gesture is used as both greeting and farewell. Examples are