Ho'oponopono

Ho'oponopono—from Hawaiian ho'o (to make) and pono (right)—is an ancient Hawaiian practice of family reconciliation documented by early historians, though the specific term emerged in recorded use later. Traditionally, extended families met with a kahuna (healing priest) to "make right" broken relationships through prayer, confession, repentance, and mutual forgiveness. In 1976, Morrnah Simeona adapted the practice beyond family contexts into a self-help process, modernizing it for contemporary application while preserving its spiritual foundations.