Word(less) Wednesday: Discover the Meaning of 'Ohana' with Ohana Puppies

Ohana noun

1. Part of Hawaiian culture, ʻohana means family (in an extended sense of the term, including blood-related, adoptive or intentional). The concept emphasizes that families are bound together and members must cooperate and remember one another.

Now that the holiday season is upon us I thought ohana would be an appropriate word for the week.  If you’re a Disney fan then you might recognize this word from the movie Lilo and Stitch.  Here’s quote from the movie that explains ohana:

Lilo: [Nani is taking Stitch outside] He was an orphan and we adopted him! What about “ohana”?
Nani: He hasn’t been here that long!
Lilo: Neither have I. Dad said “ohana” means family.
[Nani stops]
Lilo: “Ohana” means family. Family means…
Lilo, Nani: …nobody gets left behind.
Lilo: Or…?
Nani: …or forgotten. I know, I know. I hate it when you use “ohana” against me.

Once again: “Ohana means nobody gets left behind or forgotten.”

Linus is sitting in the back left of the picture.  There was a time when he was left behind and forgotten at the animal shelter.  We were lucky enough to adopt him and make him a part of our ohana over 10 years ago!  We love him and would not know what to do without him.  The word ohana definitely applies to Linus and all our pups!

“Saving one dog will not change the world, but surely for that one dog, the world will change forever.” –Karen Davison

I feel like I could alter that quote and say: “Saving one dog will not change the world, but surely for that one person, the world will change forever.”  It has for me and I’m sure it has for everyone else who has saved a dog.

A special thank you to all the dog rescues, shelters, fosters, and everyone who helps our homeless pets find homes.  Your work is priceless!

Do you have a rescue dog(s) too?  How did your dog(s) become a part of your ohana?  Tell us about it in the comment section below.

Top Picks For Our Puppies

1. BEST PUPPY TOY
   We Like: Snuggle Puppy w/ Heart Beat & Heat Pack - Perfect for new puppies. We get all of our Service Dog pups a Snuggle Puppy.
2. BEST DOG CHEW
   We Like: Best Bully Sticks - All of our puppies love to bite, nip, and chew. We love using Bully Sticks to help divert these unwanted behaviors.
3. BEST DOG TREATS
   We Like: Wellness Soft Puppy Bites - One of our favorite treats for training our service dog puppies.
4. BEST FRESH DOG FOOD
   We Like: The Farmer's Dog - A couple months ago we started feeding Raven fresh dog food and she loves it! Get 50% off your first order of The Farmer's Dog.

Check out more of our favorites on our New Puppy Checklist.