In most cases, grandparents like these may spend a few hours a day with their grandchildren. But more and more these days, grandparents have to be full-time caregivers for their children's children. They should know what rights they have.

"Legal aid has actually been representing grandparents in a number of different areas. We assist with guardianships and adoptions as well as powers of attorney when the parents know that they're going to giving their kids to the grandparents," said Nalani Fujimori, from Legal Aid.

The Hawaiian tradition of hanai families has cultural importance but Fujimori says "While hanai is really one of the things that are popular in Hawaii, still people want that documentation to know legally that they have those grandparents."

Grandparents who know they will be caring for the grandchildren until they are 18 may want to consider adoption.

"Adoptions provide a little more stability and security for grandparents because they actually have full control and ability to raise those children as their own children. When a grandparent takes an adoption they can actually apply for social security for that child," said Fujimori.

Legal aid can also help grandparents secure guardianship of the children. Though not as encompassing as adoption, there are some trade-offs.

"So they can apply for assistance from the Department of Human Services for non-needy caregivers or in some cases they can even go after those parents for child support," said Fujimori.

If not adoption or guardianship, grandparents may want to consider becoming foster parents to the grandchildren.

"And I think some of the recent changes in the law will provide more opportunities for relatives to get more information about becoming foster parents. It puts in new regulations for the Department of Human Services to provide applications for these grandparents," said Fujimori.

If you have questions you can call Legal Aid at (808)536-4302 on Oahu or (800) 499-4302 on the Neighbor Islands.