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Section 4: Social Applications

Ho‘o Ponopono: A Traditional Hawaiian Practice for Setting Relationships Right

Pages 73-76
Published online: 28 Dec 2017
 
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The author presents the traditional Hawaiian practice of ho'o ponopono: “The act of bringing into being a mental cleansing of thoughts, feelings and actions in order to rectify problems in interpersonal relationships” (Pukui, Elbert, Mookini, & Nishizawa, 1986, p. 341). The five types of relationship interactions in which ho'o ponopono is used to intervene are: (1) to address problems between two unrelated persons, (2) to address problems between two family members, (3) to address conflict between different families, (4) to address specific problems with individuals that are affecting the community, and (5) to resolve relationship problems of any type on a spiritual level. The five-step process involved in ho'o ponopono—meditation, visualization, forgiveness, discussion, and mutual restitution—is presented. Each step in the process of ho'o ponopono is discussed with a relevant element of transactional analysis theory.

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Author information

Eric William Sigmund

Eric William Sigmund has a master's degree in clinical psychology and is an ITAA Certified Transactional Analyst (clinical). He was a co-recipient of the 1980 Eric Berne Memorial Scientific Award, has served on the ITAA Board of Trustees, and is currently a member of the editorial board of the Transactional Analysis Journal. Mr. Sigmund has practices on Maui and on the Big Island of Hawai'i.