Grandparenting in the Tongan Community: A Cultural Model

This article examines the phenomenon of grandparenting as an intrinsic structure in the context of the Tongan culture. Study participants included Tongan grandparents and their grandchildren residing in Tonga and Hawaii. Data were collected via individual interviews and focus groups. Results speak to meanings of grandparenting such as a gathering place and a second layer of parents; roles such as teacher and creator and preserver of cultural customs and traditions; and a grandparents-grandchildren relationship that reflects unconditional love without borders or taboos. The intrinsic structure of grandparenting in the Tongan culture with a purpose of preserving and perpetuating cultural customs and traditions is affirmed. A theory grounded on the findings of this study and implications for research, policy, and practice focusing on the cultural aspects of grandparenting are discussed.