Quick Answer
"Ohana" (pronounced "oh-HAH-nah") means family in Hawaiian, but it's much more expansive than the Western definition. Ohana includes blood relatives, adopted family, close friends, neighbors, and anyone you consider part of your family unit. The core belief is that family members are bound together and must support each other unconditionally. As the famous quote says: "Ohana means family, and family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten."
How to Pronounce "Ohana"
Breakdown:
- "oh" - Like the letter "O" or "oh" as in "go"
- "HAH" - Like "ha" in "father" (stressed syllable)
- "nah" - Like "na" in "banana"
Common mistake: Don't say "oh-HANN-ah" - keep the vowels open and clear.
The Hawaiian Concept of Ohana
Extended Family
Traditional Hawaiian ohana includes grandparents, parents, children, aunts, uncles, cousins, and even distant relatives - often spanning multiple generations living together or nearby. But it goes further to include hanai (adopted) family members who may have no blood relation at all.
Chosen Family
In Hawaii, close friends are often considered ohana. You might hear someone say "that's my ohana" about lifelong friends, neighbors who helped raise them, or coworkers who became like siblings. The bond of ohana isn't limited by blood - it's created through love, loyalty, and mutual support.
Mutual Responsibility
The core of ohana is kuleana - responsibility. Every member has obligations to the family, and the family has obligations to each member. Elders are respected and cared for. Children are raised by the whole community. Nobody faces hardship alone. This is why "nobody gets left behind" resonates so deeply with Hawaiian values.
The Lilo & Stitch Connection
Disney's 2002 film "Lilo & Stitch" brought the word "ohana" to global audiences with the memorable quote: "Ohana means family, and family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten."
While the movie popularized the phrase, it accurately captures the Hawaiian value. The film was praised for its respectful portrayal of Hawaiian culture, showing how a broken family (Lilo and Nani) and an outcast (Stitch) could form their own ohana through love and acceptance.
How to Use "Ohana"
"My whole ohana coming for Christmas"
Extended family gathering
"You're ohana to me, brah"
Telling someone they're like family
"Our restaurant is one big ohana"
Workplace that feels like family
"Da whole neighborhood is ohana"
Tight-knit community
Related Hawaiian Family Terms
Hanai
Adopted family - informal adoption common in Hawaiian culture
Tutu
Grandparent - revered elders of the family
Keiki
Child/children - the next generation
Kupuna
Elder - respected older family members
Aunty/Uncle
Respectful title for any older person
Calabash Cousin
Close friend treated as family
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