Ku i ka welo.
Pukui #1879Fit into the family behavior pattern.
Whether good or bad, one's behavior is judged by the family he belongs to.
Parents in a Hawaiian culture have great responsibility in raising their children to be pono representatives of their family. Keeping to high ethical standards, portraying humility, self-control, generosity, and compassion, and behaving in ways that bring honor and respect to the family and the kupuna are the huge tasks before the parents in their education of their children. To bring shame to the family is a great disgrace...not only to the family today but also to the family's ancestors and the future members of the family.
He pula, o ka 'anai ka mea nui. Pukui 934. A speck of dust in the eye causes a lot of rubbing because of irritation. Let one member of a family do wrong, and like the resultant irritation, he is a shame to all.
If a child acts up, the question of the adults is often..."who is this child's family?" The same questions is true if a child does well. After considering the behavior of the family, the resulting conclusion is, "No wonder."
In these stressful days, it is easy to understand how some parents have forgotten that the way they raise their children is not only for today but also for yesterday and tomorrow's scrutiny.
