Rev. Jesse Jackson Cries at Barack's Victory Speech; Obama Cries at Grandmother's Death

Obama's grandmother was a hard worker who loved family, modesty—and Hawaiian 'ohana.

In the Hawaiian language, the word “tutu” for grandmother is of recent origin; it’s something of a novelty, not found in the ancient legends or chants. Yet it is used frequently and with great fondness instead of “grandma” by people on the islands. The more usual word would be “kupuna”, for respected elder, and in the case of a grandmother, “kupuna wahine.” But it comes down to the same thing, and Barack Obama’s calling his grandmother “toot” won him the affection of his fellow islanders. Recently, a prominent Hawaiian leader (indeed “Kahuna”) said Obama’s use of the word was proof that “he is one of us.”

The Hawaiian dimension of the death of Obama’s tutu, Madelyn Payne Dunham, is powerful, because this sad event embodies the important symbols in island life: family (‘ohana), the elder (kupuna), and the cycle of life and death. Death is not a lugubrious occasion here, but more often a celebration of a life