Freedom and Forgiveness-Hawaiian Ho'o pono pono

Ho-o pono pono-the practice of forgiveness and making things right has it’s roots in the religious and cultural practices of ancient Hawaii.

The early Hawaiians were deeply religious. They held a reverence for all of nature. There was a chant and prayer for almost everything in their existence.

For them-God was everywhere- in everything thing and in every living being. Everything in their universe had it’s own god…yet all the gods, all things and all beings were part of the One Supreme God. This One Supreme God was the source of All.

Ho’o pono pono

When there was a disruption in the natural flow of things- a disagreement, a hurtful action or something was disturbing they used a prayer ceremony called Ho’o pono pono to make things right again. In the beginning it was most common for the priest in their temple to conduct this ritual.

All parties would get together and explain their side of what happened. The priest would accept their offerings, make a water blessing, say a prayer and provide spiritual counseling. Everyone would share a ceremonial drink called awa. This is made from kava kava-the Hawaiian pepper plant. With the entire process: the offerings, prayer, the water blessing. listening compassionately and sharing honestly- forgiveness occurred. The natural order of things was restored.

As life evolved in Hawaii, respected family members- the elders of the community were also consulted for guidance in making things right. This family style of ho’o pono pono was more casual. It was a time of sitting, talking and airing things out. Each family had their own way of doing this. Once the hurts were resolved and things were made right a lu’au or celebration meal was held and order was restored.

Morrnah Nalamaku Simeona

In the 1950’s Ho’o pono pono was refined and given a deeper spiritual meaning by Morrnah Nalamaku Simeona -a Hawaiian herbal healer. Morrnah used Ho’o pono pono to establish a greater awareness of God or Spirit alive within us. She felt that we live in partnership with Spirit to co-create a life of harmony and peace. Morrnah created prayers to amplify the awareness of our partnership with Spirit. Her prayers allow an internal shift so that natural order and right action are restored within us and others from the very beginning of time.

Her mother was a temple priestess of the Ka La’au Kahea tradition. Morrnah remembered the power of the water blessing. She combined her knowledge of the ancient ways with her religious upbringing in the Protestant and Catholic religions. She was also influenced by the metaphysical teachings of Edgar Cayce and her studies of Indian philosophy.

Morrnah came to a new understanding of forgiveness by focusing on Divine Intelligence within one’s own mind. Her prayer of Ho’o pono pono aligned our human mind with Divine Mind.

Accepting Responsibility

By becoming aware that we are responsible for everything in our life and world and accepting that responsibility we are able to change our past and our future. With this practice old hurts, memories and behavior patterns are able to be released and changed . This creates freedom, peace and ease in ourselves, our world and those around us.

Morrnah’s beautiful prayers and the healing that came from her work were -well received around the world. She even taught courses in Ho’o pono pono for the United Nations.

One of her students- Dr. Hew Len, a psychologist studied with her for 10 years and has carried on her work of Ho’o pono pono since 1992.

Original Prayer from Morrnah:

Divine Creator: Father, Mother, Son as One:

If I (we),________________,my (our) families, relatives and ancestors have offended you, ___________________,your families, relative and ancestors in thoughts, words and actions from the beginning of our creation to the present.

Humbly, humbly I (we) ask you (all) for forgiveness for all my (our) errors, resentments, guilts, hatred, hurts, trauma or pain, offenses, blocks, etc., which ( (we) have created and accumulated from the beginning to the present.

Please Forgive Me!.

(Response) Yes, _________________ I (we) forgive you!

Let this water cleanse, purify and release me (us), offender and offended from spiritual, mental, material, financial and karmic bondage. (Note: the use of actual water is not necessary. A symbolic sprinkling gesture made with the hand is sufficient to suggest water.) 

Pull out from our Memory Bank or Computer All the Unwanted Negative Memories and Blocks that attach, knot, tie and bind us together.

Sever, detach, unite and release these unwanted memories and blocks.

Transmute these unwanted energies to "Pure Light"!

Fill the spaces those energies occupied with Divine Light.

Let "Divine Order," Light, Love, Peace, Balance, Understanding, Joy, Wisdom and Abundance be made manifest for us through the Divine Power of the Divine Father, Creator of all life, Mother, Son as ONE, in whom we abide, rest, and have our being... Now and Forever More, Amen.1

Simplified Version 

Dr. Len and those who share the modern version of Ho’o pono pono –have simplified the prayer. This short form is used today:

I'm sorry, please forgive me. Thank you. I love you.2

A Deep Connection With Your Source 

Whether you practice the ancient style of Ho’o pono pono, Morrnah’s beautiful prayer or the shorter version from Dr. Len. Ho’o pono pono creates a deep connection with your Source and releases you from the effects of your past. Powerful changes come from this- enabling you to move forward with your life. With this new state of freedom it is easy to make new choices for yourself.

Try one of these prayers daily for three weeks. I believe you will find that your heart and mind feel stronger and that you move more freely through all of life’s situations. Let me know your experiences- I’d love to hear what happens for you.

1.Self Identity Through Ho’o pono pon, Basic 1, Pacifica Seminars, 1990

2. Zero Limits, The Secret Hawaiian System for Wealth, Health, Peace, and More, Joe Vitale and Ihaleakala Hew Len, PhD, John Wiley and Sons, Inc. New Jersey, 2007.

You are invited to join me for a Ho’o pono pono forgiveness workshop and ceremony

Ho'o pono pono-Hawaiian Forgiveness

Saturday, August 10^th

2pm- 4pm
20755 Occidental Road
 Center for Spiritual Living
 Santa Rosa California 95401
 707-546-4543
Cost:$20

register online:http://steppingstones-book-and-gifts.myshopify.com/collections/events-tickets