Abstract

Families function and are structured in various ways, making the experiences of those involved within each family very unique and worthy of conversation and exploration. Using this research opportunity to combine two subjects of personal interest, sociology and Hawaiian culture, I sought to explore the experiences of individuals within Hawaiian families that identified as being participants of the hānai (informal adoption) community. In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with 10 individuals who identified as having been informally adopted or having informally adopted someone into their family. My findings suggest that the definitions of family and hānai are closely related and even interconnected at times, that support within the hānai relationship is expressed in various yet equally significant ways, and that as the relationship has changed overtime, it’s been maintained through various obstacles such as distance, time, and personal growth. Further research should explore more about informal adoption in general and the ways in which family structures shift and may be shaped by this dynamic within families of various other minority cultures.