Comments on: Learning What ‘Ohana Really Means

By: Caila

Caila — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 22:03:07 +0000

I should add a comment here and let all you readers know that Jessica (see the comment above) and her husband JR let us stay with them for three weeks when we first came to Hawaii, even though they own a studio apartment. Now that’s love! We slept on a blow-up mattress on their kitchen floor, ate their food and generally acted like family. They never once made us feel like a burden even though we were ALWAYS AROUND.
Thank you, Jess and JR! That’s ‘Ohaha-love in it’s purest form.

By: jessica

jessica — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 03:37:32 +0000

i second bud – you write SO well.

i remember those days… although i didn’t actually have to live those first few months for you – i lived them with you, and no matter how hard, God was/is continually faithful…

it was really neat to watch His provision, and hand in everything with you guys- even all the small details. incredible.

By: LiveDifferent Challenge (21): Turn up the Heat | Kari Patterson

LiveDifferent Challenge (21): Turn up the Heat | Kari Patterson — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 14:44:08 +0000

[...] about this, I also read a post about the Hawaiian concept of ‘Ohana (it’s a really great post), and thought more about how Hawaiians seem to understand the [...]

By: Caila

Caila — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 18:34:44 +0000

I love what you said about churches creating an ‘ohana-culture in the midst of the wider culture. This concept is indeed larger than culture, larger than one island, larger than one ethnicity. Family love for one another is born in the heart of Christ and can spread anywhere His followers go. I really pray Brian and I are able to take this ‘ohana love with us to California, where the culture can be so cold and individualistic. Part of me actually wonders if this is why God brought us to Hawaii in the first place.

By: Kari

Kari — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 14:42:48 +0000

Caila, I love this, and I’m glad to finally have a word for what I experience (sometimes) even here in the states. Jeff and I have talked alot about culture within states, and there definitely is some. Oregon is sooo cold relationally, even though we don’t think of it b/c most of us have never lived anywhere else (the bay area is even colder!). Anyway, what’s encouraging is that the church can permeate culture, it can create its own culture where this ‘Ohana and love abound, where family is created where it’s not born, can demonstrate that this concept is greater than a culture. Anyway, i love this post. Thanks for sharing. Oh, and i’m thankful to finally know how to spell “haole”…

By: Bud

Bud — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 23:04:13 +0000

you almost bring me to tears. to be able to be a part of what God is doing in your lives is such an honor for us. I am blown away by the love of the people in our church. I shouldn’t be, after all the Bible says the fruit of the Spirit is love, but still hearing so many people remark about the warmth of the people in our fellowship blows me away. God is good.

o btw, Caila you are a fantastic writer…keep it up.

By: tmurphathome

tmurphathome — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 05:39:15 +0000

Well, Teri-Mom has some big ole arms just a waiting here in California for you guys!!!!