I am the sole caregiver for my moʻopuna. Does our hānai relationship give me legal rights? What legal process do we need?
By Angela Correa-Pei, NHLC Of Counsel Hānai – the traditional practice where someone other than the natural parents assumes kuleana for a child’s upbringing – is well-established in Hawaiian culture and common in kupuna–moʻopuna relationships. The ʻōlelo noʻeau “ʻIke aku, ʻike mai, kōkua aku, kōkua mai; pela iho ka nohona ʻohana” (Recognize and be recognized, help and be helped; such is family life) captures this spirit of mutual care. While hānai is recognized under Hawaiʻi law in some contexts, hānai mākua may need additional, formal legal status to fully meet the needs of the keiki. Three primary legal options allow ...
