Honi mindfulness

Random question about luau honi and honi for kupuna, Tutu, Papa, Anake and Anakala.

I’m GenX, I was taught to honi my elders at every gathering as a sign of respect. The young people embrace and honi all the elders at any event. Coming and going, that’s how we rolled(or expected to do so)

Now that I have reached Tutu status, I’ve noticed a few things. Those younger generations haven’t been taught, or maybe aren’t expected to greet kupuna the way we used to. I get it. Some feel awkward or forced. I felt awkward and forced but it was respectful and after a few times, it felt extremely respectful to show kupuna aloha, and it was reciprocal. It made me happy to give tutu love, because she was so happy to be acknowledged and able to love me back. Again, I get it can be awkward and I never force my mo’o to honi if they don’t want to, a high five or knuckles will do.

Fast forward now to being Tutu aged (yikes!) my question is; if you are now a tutu, papa, or whatever your grandparent name might be, do you honi like a Tutu? What do I mean? A traditional (non romantic) kiss is usually a puckered mouth where lips kiss, but a Tutu kiss is where the tutu doesn’t pucker up, but rather tucks lips in and allows the younger person to decide where to honi with no expectation—on the mouth, on the cheek, a traditional honi, whatever.

Just curious, if you are a young kupuna, how do you greet your mo’o? Did your tutu influence your greetings? Ran into a kupuna who does the lip-tucked-in-honi every time I see her, and I appreciate it.