n. Mother, aunt, female cousin or relative of parents’ generation.

Makua – parent

Hine – short for wahine, woman.

This Sunday, Lāpule, we celebrate all makuahine, all the mamas out there and that includes your mom, aunties and all the female cousins of that same generation. They are, after all, your makuahine, from a Hawaiian perspective. And I love the concept.  I have always felt that all women who nurture the children  should be honored on this special day. Some women who may not have bore or adopted children (I want to write borned because I know you will all know what I mean) have been makuahine to the keiki in their lives.

I know many a kumu (teacher, whether it is in school, hula, art) who are more nurturing than some children’s own mothers. I know some who are perfect complements to the mothers. And as a makuahine myself, I know that I have relied on a handful of close females in my generation to provide my keiki with the guidance and soft touch that I lacked as a busy working makuahine of four keiki.

Copyright: 2017 – Liana Iaea Honda. All rights reserved. All versions of “He Momi e Lei ai”, in its entirety, past and present, is the property of L. K. I. Honda. Reproduction and use of any kind other than the sharing of this website is prohibited without written consent. Alteration to the original content in any form is prohibited in every and any instance, and use in any other variant is prohibited without written consent of the author. Address inquiries to: hemomi [at] gmail.com. Definitions and wise sayings are from: Hawaiian Dictionary by Pukui and Elbert, 1986. ʻŌlelo Noʻeau – Hawaiian Proverbs & Poetical Sayings by Mary Kawena Pukui, 1983.