Sharing the Aloha Spirit Through Wagging Tails

“Aloha Spirit” is the coordination of mind and heart within each person.” – Hawaii Revised Statute 5-7.5

In Hawaii, Aloha Spirit is law. It states that, “Each person must think and emote good feelings to others. The Aloha Spirit was the working philosophy of native Hawaiians, and presented as a gift to the people of Hawaii.” From Kauai to Molokai to Oahu and abroad, the Aloha Spirit continues to thrive.

There are many different ways to express the Aloha Spirit, and Tails of Aloha is doing it four-legged steps at a time.

Nearly 15 years ago, Gayle Igarashi, an Administrator at Maluhia Nursing home on Oahu,  and her then 2-year-old yellow lab, Harley began visiting residents of a local nursing home. Igarashi says that Harley’s affectionate personality was a perfect match for the residents whose eyes lit up and smiles spread from ear to ear as he trotted into the room. As Igarashi put it, “(Harley’s Aloha Spirit)…brought back their life force.”

From Harley’s first visit, Igarashi began studying dog behavior, etiology, first aid, alternative medicine, and veterinary technology. Igarashi was careful in choosing a name for her life-changing project, and knew that the word Aloha,  which according to HRS 5-7.5 is defined as “mutual regard and affection and extends warmth in caring with no obligation in return. (It) is the essence of relationships in which each person is important to every other person for collective existence. (And) means to hear what is not said, to see what cannot be seen and to know the unknowable,” needed to be incorporated in the name.

Tails of Aloha was launched, but it’s the tales of Aloha that truly bring out the spirit of the therapy service.

Today, the wagging tails have provided therapy for babies, children, and hospice patients throughout Oahu.

“There is no limit to the age of those we serve. Except reptiles, any animal can be trained to provide pet therapy,” shared Igarashi.

One could speculate that Harley could relate to the patients because he endured diagnosis and treatment for hip dysplasia at the age of 2 and then squamous cell carcinoma at the age of 5. Harley celebrated more than 16 years of life and paw-paved the way for Phiglio, Kimiko, Louie, Hope, and many more tails of aloha.

To learn more about the benefits of pet therapy, visit Gayle and her team this weekend, May 9 & 10 at the Hawaii Pet Expo.

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