Family is an important concept in Hawaiian culture, and the names for different family members reflect this. If you want to learn more about Hawaiian culture and language, it is essential to familiarize yourself with these names.
In this article, we will go over the names of family members in Hawaiian culture, from parents and grandparents to siblings and cousins.
How do you say ‘family’ in Hawaiian?
The word for family in Hawaiian is ʻohana. The word encompasses the idea of extended family and community connections and emphasizes the importance of family relationships and responsibilities. It is also related to the interconnectedness of all members of a community. This idea of family goes beyond just blood relatives, including close friends, neighbors, and even spiritual leaders.
Parents, uncles, and aunties in Hawaiian
In Hawaiian culture, the adults of the same generation as your parents are called makua. This term encompasses both your mother and father and can be used to refer to any older relatives who belong to that same generation. For example, your aunt, who is the same age as your mother, would also be called makua.
However, there are specific terms that differentiate between your mother and father. Your mother is your makuahine, while your father is your makua kāne. These terms are used to show respect and honor to your parents.
In addition, there are terms for aunty and uncle in Hawaiian culture, which are relatively new additions to the language. The words for aunty and uncle are derived from English, and are used to refer to older relatives who are not your parents. Your aunt is your māmā, while your uncle is your pāpā. The English word “Aunty” is also commonly used in Hawaii.
Grandparents and ancestors
The Hawiian name for grandma, grandpa, and ancestors is kupuna. This term is used for both male and female relatives, with the words wahine (woman) or kāne (man) added to distinguish between the two.
For example, your grandmother would be called kupuna wahine, while your grandfather would be kupuna kāne. Another term used to refer to a grandmother is tūtū, which is a term of endearment. This phrase can also be used to refer to a great-grandmother.
Siblings
The names for siblings in Hawaiian can be a bit confusing, as there are different names for sisters and brothers depending on the gender of the sibling and whether they are older or younger.
If you have a sister who is older than you, she is your kaikuaʻana. If you have a sister who is younger than you, she is your kaikaina.
If you have a brother who is older than you, he is your kaikunāne. If you have a brother who is younger than you, he is your kaikaina. There’s a full breakdown of sibling naming in Hawaiian in the tables below:
Siblings of a female
| older sister | kaikuaʻana |
| younger sister | kaikaina |
| brother | kaikunāne |
| sister | tita (slang) |
Siblings of a male
| older brother | kaikuaʻana |
| younger brother | kaikaina |
| sister | kaikuahine |
| brother | palala (slang) |
It is worth noting that there are also colloquial terms for siblings in Hawaiian culture. Tita is a slang term for sister in Hawaiian, while palala is slang for brother. These terms can be used by friends to express a solid, family-like bond.
Also, remember that kaikunāne is used exclusively to refer to a brother of a girl and kaikuahine exclusively a sister of a boy.
Cousins
In Hawaiian culture, there are specific terms for cousins depending on their gender and how they are related to you. Here’s the breakdown:
- If you have a male cousin who is the son of your mother’s brother, he is your ʻanakala.
- If you have a male cousin who is the son of your father’s sister, he is your ʻanake.
- If you have a female cousin who is the daughter of your mother’s brother, she is your ʻanakē.
- If you have a female cousin who is the daughter of your father’s sister, she is your ʻanake wahine.
Family in Hawaiian: Summary
Understanding the different names for family members in Hawaiian culture is an important part of understanding the culture as a whole.
By learning these names, you can gain a deeper appreciation for the importance of family in Hawaiian culture, and you can also better understand the relationships between different family members and friends.
