Granddaughter in Hawaiian: Moʻopuna Wahine

The Hawaiian term for granddaughter—moʻopuna wahine—carries layers of relationship.

Breakdown

• Moʻopuna: Grandchild (any gender). Root: puna (spring, source) + moʻo (succession, lineage). Literally: "next generation spring."
• Wahine: Woman, female.

Usage

• Direct address: "Aloha, moʻopuna wahine" (Hello, granddaughter).
• Third person: "Koʻu moʻopuna wahine" (my granddaughter).
• Endearment: Often shortened to "moʻopuna" with tone conveying affection.

Cultural Context

Hawaiian kinship is classificatory: "grandchild" includes great-grandchildren, grandnieces/nephews, and adopted/hānai children. Moʻopuna reflects the continuum—ancestors → elders → parents → children → grandchildren—all linked by moʻokūʻauhau (genealogy).

Related Terms

• Moʻopuna kāne: Grandson
• Kupuna wahine: Grandmother (female elder)
• Kupuna kāne: Grandfather
• Mākua: Parent generation

Say it with aloha: moʻopuna wahine (moh-OH-poo-nah vah-HEE-neh).