What is the Hawaiian term for a family guardian spirit?

The Hawaiian term for a family guardian spirit is ʻaumakua.

An ʻaumakua is traditionally understood as a personal or family god, often originating as a deified ancestor. Rather than being limited to one human appearance, an ʻaumakua may manifest through an animal, plant, rock, or other physical form. Sharks, owls, birds, and octopuses are among the forms described in Hawaiian traditions.

ʻAumakua were believed to protect descendants, offer warnings, provide guidance, and sometimes punish wrongdoing. Families could maintain a particular relationship with their guardian spirit, including taboos concerning its physical manifestation. The plural is commonly written ʻaumākua, while ʻaumakua can refer to the concept or an individual guardian.

The term is often confused with mana, which means spiritual power or authority, and kapu, a system of restrictions or sacred prohibitions. A heiau is a temple or place of worship, not a guardian spirit. ʻAumakua therefore identifies the family’s ancestral protector, not a general supernatural force.