ʻOhana is a Hawaiian word that means “family” in an extended sense, including blood-related, adoptive, or intentional family. It can also refer to close friends and associates. The term is cognate with the Māori word kōhanga, which means “nest”. The root word ʻohā refers to the taro plant’s root or corm, which Kanaka Maoli consider to be their cosmological ancestor. 

ʻOhana is a Hawaiian value that emphasizes stronger relationships and a familial bond that includes a sense of loyalty, support, compassion, and love. It’s a reminder that no one gets left behind or forgotten. Some say that being invited into an ʻohana is like being given a key to the heart of Hawaii, and that it comes with a responsibility to care for the islands as if they were your own. 

In contemporary Hawaiian real estate, an ʻohana unit is a type of secondary suite that may be part of a house or a separate structure on the same lot. It may contain a relative but may not be rented to the general public. 

(Google AI)