ʻOhana is aHawaiian term meaning "family" (in anextended sense of the term, including blood-related, adoptive or intentional).The term iscognate withMāorikōhanga, meaning "nest".The root wordʻohā refers to the root orcorm of thekalo (taro) plant, the staple "staff of life" in Hawaii, whichKanaka Maoli consider their cosmological ancestor.
In contemporary Hawaiian real estate jargon, an "ʻohana unit" is a type ofsecondary suite. It may be part of a house or a separate structure on the same lot, and is intended to house a relative; it may not be rented to the general public.[1][2][3]
The word was popularised byDisney's 2002 filmLilo & Stitch and serves as the central theme throughout itsfranchise: "ʻOhana means family. Family means nobody gets left behind—or forgotten."[4]
ʻOhana is used again in the 2025live-action adaptation ofLilo & Stitch. In the film, the concept extends beyond biological family to include supporting charactersDavid Kawena and his grandmother Tūtū, who eventually adoptLilo themselves. Their adoption is referred to as "hānai" or "hānai-ohana", a form of adoptive relationship in Hawaiian tradition, as referenced by the character Mrs. Kekoa.[5][6]
