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| Some of the women of the Hunter Family in 2000 |
Now that my grandparents’ children are all adults, they make it their responsibility to keep the family close. Since their parents worked constantly to put food on the table, the five learned to enjoy each other’s company and stick together. We, as grandchildren, were taught to value our bonds with one another and family gatherings every couple of months are a must. Our whole, extended family gets together during the Christmas holiday because, to us, it is one of the most important holidays. We go to my grandparents’ house a few days before the 25th of December for our annual Tree Trimming. Each family brings a dish to share with the family and each child shows off their brand new ornament to hang on the tree. We then proceed to hang up our new ornaments and continue decorating with the ones from previous years. After eating, my grandmother pulls out old packets of paper and we sing Christmas carols. Then comes the gift exchange amongst the grandchildren and the White Elephant game for the adults. Our last “planned event” is a Spoons tournament, which we use as intense, family bonding time. It also gives soon-to-be new relatives, such as fiancés, a chance to experience the bonds in our family. My grandparents made me realize that the people who share my genes and blood line will, and should, always be there for me when I am in need. When watching the movie Lilo and Stitch with my cousins, a character stated that “ohana means family. Family means no one gets left behind.” That has been the motto in our family—we will always be there to protect and love each other no matter what. For example, my cousin goes to the same college as I do. Seeing him everyday is my little piece of home that comforts me. He reminds me that there are people who love me and want me to succeed in everything that I do. Of course, we argue and disagree the way any humans would, but at the end of the day, we value each other the way our elders taught us.
