Ohana Means Family?
Start writing a post
Relationships

Ohana Means Family?

Nobody gets left behind or forgotten.

137
Ohana Means Family?
Amanda Bovea

“Ohana means family. And family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten”… right? So how is it possible that the man that I now refer to as just my biological father, doesn’t understand a concept so simple it’s taught to children in Disney movie?

Family is a term I struggle with, even now as a grown adult. By definition, a family is a group consisting of parents and children living together in a household. But for me, a family is a group of people who don’t need to be related by blood. Family looks out for each other. My ohana consists of a lot of people; we don't always fit together perfectly, but we still fit together. My step-father, Junior, and I didn't get along at first, but we got there eventually.

I remember my mom introducing us. Well, kind of. He mostly just appeared out of nowhere, and my mom told us to get along because he'd be coming around a lot. I think she thought I'd have some kind of territorial breakdown over some random guy stepping into my house. I’m not going to lie, I vividly remember not liking him at all. He was weird, he listened to his music about 18 decibels too loud, and he watched "Family Guy." (Fun fact: I still hate the show because of how often he would watch it. He used to eat all our food and take up all of my mom’s time—I was decidedly anti-Junior.)

And then, I got older. My biological father was never on time to pick my sister and I up on visitation weekends and became more distant. Junior, though, he stepped up to the plate. He used to take me for drives where we’d talk the whole time. He’d tell me how important self-respect is, and how difficult—but necessary—it is to accept that sometimes life just doesn't work out the way we want it to. He did the things I suppose my biological father should've been doing. He met my boyfriends and would do the “dad” thing. You know, the whole, "If you don’t bring my daughter back alive, I'll know where to look,” spiel.

I have fond memories of Junior, mostly. (I say mostly because nobody is perfect, even if he'd tell you otherwise.) Every Sunday, he’d cook steak, watch some football, and laugh loudly and unrepentant. One of my fondest memories is this one time he started crying, literally almost sobbing over a good piece of steak. Mind you, this is a grown man who doesn’t cry at funerals, but cries at a good steak. Incredible, right?

I think about these formative moments a lot now that i’m an adult and about to graduate from college. Here’s the thing: I never called Junior “dad” until recently. My sister realized quicker than I did, but I figured he’s earned the title, and after all these years, I think he deserves to know that both his daughters love him.

When I cross the stage in two weeks, my dad is gonna be cheering louder than everyone, my sister will probably make me another gaudy poster, and my mom will embarrass me like always. All of this, and I am grateful. Stitch put it best, “This is my family. I found it, all on my own. It's little, and broken but still good. Yeah, still good.”


Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
the beatles
Wikipedia Commons

For as long as I can remember, I have been listening to The Beatles. Every year, my mom would appropriately blast “Birthday” on anyone’s birthday. I knew all of the words to “Back In The U.S.S.R” by the time I was 5 (Even though I had no idea what or where the U.S.S.R was). I grew up with John, Paul, George, and Ringo instead Justin, JC, Joey, Chris and Lance (I had to google N*SYNC to remember their names). The highlight of my short life was Paul McCartney in concert twice. I’m not someone to “fangirl” but those days I fangirled hard. The music of The Beatles has gotten me through everything. Their songs have brought me more joy, peace, and comfort. I can listen to them in any situation and find what I need. Here are the best lyrics from The Beatles for every and any occasion.

Keep Reading...Show less
Being Invisible The Best Super Power

The best superpower ever? Being invisible of course. Imagine just being able to go from seen to unseen on a dime. Who wouldn't want to have the opportunity to be invisible? Superman and Batman have nothing on being invisible with their superhero abilities. Here are some things that you could do while being invisible, because being invisible can benefit your social life too.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

19 Lessons I'll Never Forget from Growing Up In a Small Town

There have been many lessons learned.

70983
houses under green sky
Photo by Alev Takil on Unsplash

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Keep Reading...Show less
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

132544
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments