ohana

Ohana is a Hawaiian term that translates to family. In traditional Hawaiian culture, ohana refers to a network of relatives by blood, marriage, or adoption, united by shared obligations, loyalty, and mutual care. The concept emphasizes continuity, responsibility, and support across generations, and it often encompasses more than the nuclear family.

The scope of ohana can extend to close friends and community members who are considered family. In practice, ohana entails reciprocal duties: family members look after one another, assist in times of need, and work to preserve the well-being and honor of the family as a whole.

In contemporary usage, ohana is commonly used in Hawaii to describe a broad circle of kinship and friendship. It also appears in everyday speech to welcome newcomers into the family circle. The term gained international recognition through popular culture, notably the 2002 film Lilo & Stitch, which helped popularize the idea that “Ohana means family.”

As a cultural concept, ohana embodies values of care, reciprocity, and belonging. It informs attitudes toward community life, responsibility, and social connectedness, and it can be used to describe both biological relatives and chosen family within a broader social network.