In the Hawaiian culture, ohana means family. Members of an ohana could be relatives by blood, non-relations who are accepted by the ohana, as well as members of the ohana who have died. It, also, includes the aumakua, the ancestral guardian spirit of the family.

The ohana is the unit that provides the food, shelter, and education of the children, giving them emotinal support, love, and security. In old Hawaii, the parents performed the daily work including farming and fishing. The children carried food, water, and materials for the building of houses, canoes, & other items. Children were taught by watching and doing.

If a child showed a natural talent at something, he was sent to live with an expert in that field.

Grandparents were a source of wisdom and understanding. They helped care for the children and developed close ties with them. The spiritual guardians provided a sense of well-being for the family.

Today, ohana still means family, including family members and friends and people still believe in their amakua.

The meaning of ohana is used more generally now to refer to any group of people with a common bond.