Articles

Ho'oponopono: Making Right
By Isa Gucciardi, Ph.D.

Ho’oponopono is a Hawaiian word which refers to a process of mediation which has been used to bring peace among family and community members in Hawaii for centuries. Ho’oponopono is a key component of the larger school of psychology and healing called Huna.

Huna is a very ancient psychology, which has roots in mystery schools beyond the Hawaiian Islands. Many of the important elements of these mystery schools were relatively well preserved within the shamanic practices of Hawaii until the arrival of Christian missionaries in the early nineteenth century.

The Christian missionaries made it illegal for Hawaiians to practice any of their healing or community building practices, and much of the wisdom in these shamanic practices was lost or hidden as a result. In the early part of the twentieth century, Max Long, a western researcher investigating healing practices in Hawaii, coined the word “huna” to refer to these practices. The word “huna” means secret.

The secret of the success of ho’oponopono as a vehicle for bringing peace to the community lies in its insistence on personal responsibility and inner reflection. The context of Huna provides understanding about how inner conflicts within individuals have a tendency to generate external conflicts in community settings.

“Making right” is one of the most common translations of Ho’oponopono. Sessions of Ho’oponopono are called when there is some lack of harmony within the community or family that needs to be made right. Within Huna healing practices, it is understood that some types of illnesses or what is called “bad luck” is a result of a lack of harmony or peace within the patient’s personal relationships. If a doctor, or a kahuna, feels that these relationships need to be brought into balance, he or she will call for a time of Ho’oponopono. Ho’oponopono can also be called for when there are tensions within the family or community relationships that are causing disruptions to the harmony or well-being of the group.

In Ho’oponopono sessions, everyone takes turns speaking until there is no further truth to tell. The mediator is usually a kahuna – a minister, teacher, doctor or other respected community member. Traditional Ho’oponopono sessions can include prayer, discussion, confession, repentance, mutual restitution, and forgiveness. In Ho’oponopono, everyone is encouraged to engage in honest self-scrutiny. No one is considered to have more power than another, and everyone is expected to tell the truth as they know it. Each party is expected to bring an attitude of respect for oneself and the other to the table. If any individual is unable to maintain this attitude of respect, he or she is guided into a period of silence, called “ho’omalu,” which means “to bring under guidance or protection.” A ritual or ceremony is often used in Ho’oponopono to reinforce the changes or promises that have been put forward during the session, and these changes or promises often have an enduring effect.

The ancient practice of Ho’oponopono has much relevance today. As a process, it helps reconnect people with their inner motivations. It helps them listen to their inner knowing, and it helps them reconnect with inner guidance. These are all valuable tools for modern people to employ in attaining and maintaining harmony in personal relationships.