ɐkˈoːɹdɪŋ tə dʒˈɑːn ɑːsˈoːɹɪˌoʊ, pɹəfˈɛsɚɹ æt ðə kˌæmɐkˌækjuːˌɑːkɐlˈɑːni sˈɛntɚ fɔːɹ həwˈaɪən stˈʌdiz: “ɐlˈoʊhə ˈeɪnə ɪz ɐ ɹᵻlˈeɪʃənʃˌɪp nˌɑːt dʒˈʌst wɪððə lˈænd bˌʌt ɹˈiəli wɪð nˈeɪtʃɚɹ ɪtsˈɛlf ænd ɪn pɚtˈɪkjʊlɚ ðæt pˈɑːɹt ʌvðə lˈænd ænd sˈiː ænd stɹˈiːmz ænd wˈɔːɾɚ ðæt ˈæktʃuːəli səstˈeɪnz lˈaɪf.
According to Jon Osorio, Professor at the Kamakakūokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies: “Aloha ‘āina is a relationship not just with the land but really with nature itself and in particular that part of the land and sea and streams and water that actually sustains life.