Hoʻoponopono A Hawaiian ‘ohana process for resolving

Hoʻoponopono:

A Hawaiian ‘ohana process for resolving conflict in schools

Jane A. Schumacher Ed.D. and Cody Pueo Pata, Kumu Hula

International Leadership Association November 2020

Kamaʻilio Hoʻolauna(introductory conversation)

Find a friend you have not

yet met.

Agree to listen first… and

talk second.

Take turns listening and

speaking.

From your naʻau(heart)

The last conversation I had about conflict was…and was about…

During this conversation, I was…

When I think about having conversations about conflict in my school, I…

I want to be able to…

What did you find out?

Similarities?

Differences?

Insights?

Learning from Hawaiian culture

Acknowledge whiteness

Study Hawaiian history from Hawaiian perspective

Embrace Hawaiian values

Bowl of lightWhen we are born, we are born with a bowl of perfect light. We are capable of all things. Over time, we bend to pick up pōhaku (stones) that begin to fill our bowl. Stones crowd out the light. In order for the light to shine once again, we must huli (turn or empty) the bowl.

From “Tales of the Night Rainbow”

Mary Kawena Pukui

“I took part in hoʻoponopono myself for 47

years, from semi-Christian to Christian times.

And whether my ʻohana prayed to ʻaumākua

(ancestor gods) or to God, the whole idea of

hoʻoponopono was the same.

“Everyone of us searched his heart for hard

feelings against one another.

“We forgave and were forgiven, thrashing out

every grudge, peeve, or resentment among us.”

Non-Western thoughts

Acceptance of spiritual presence in all things

Understanding of temporality – life continues

through generations of families

Return to balance

Hawaiian cultural values

Aloha – unconditional love, sympathy,compassion

Haʻahaʻa – humility

Hōʻihi – respect

Huikala – forgiveness

Kuleana – personal responsibility

Lōkahi – balance; collaboration

‘Ohana – biological or chosen

Is a school community

an ‘ohana?

Extended family

Interdependence of each

family member

Community depends upon

lōkahi (harmony) and pono

(doing the right thing; balance)

‘Ohana and pilikia

Hoʻo-: to cause or bring

about

Pono: what is right, ordered,

balanced

Ponopono: cared for or

attended to

Hoʻoponopono“…the specific family conference in which

relationships were ‘set right’ through prayer,

discussion, confession, repentance, and

mutual restitution and forgiveness.” In Pukui, Haertig, & Lee. Nana I ke kumu.

Hawaiian cultural context applied to

Western school

of practice and thought

Aspects of Hawaiian practice of hoʻoponopono

Western application

Loina: Procedural control. Process controls (not content).

Hoʻomalu: To preside over, authority; literally, to bring under one place of shelter/protection.

Bringing the parties into a common space.

Pule: Prayer to convene spiritual entities to observe ʻohana.

Centering; grounding.

Hala: Offense, error. Wrongs revealed; questioning.

Hihia: Entanglement, as in a fishing net. Complex wrongs & resentments.

Nalu: Reflection, meditation. Internalization and analyzation.

Mihi: Apology, repent. Ask for forgiveness.

Kala: Released, as from being entangled in afishing net.

Forgiveness & release of resentments.

Oki & Pani: acknowledgement of release from net.

Declaration of true forgivenessClosing ritual.

Process for resolving conflict in schools

Loina: Established procedures.Hoʻomalu: leader/reviewer of process *Pule: opening of container (space) *Hala: problem revealed in layers *Hihia: how problem entangled othersNalu: implications of actionsMihi: apology statedKala: forgivenessOki: declaration *Pani: closing

Let’s hoʻomau and practice

Find 3-5 colleagues with whom you have not yet spoken.

Each person briefly share a conflict from their school.

Decide on 1 conflict from the group and role play the elements of ho`oponopono as applied to the conflict selected.

Kūkākūkā

What elements of hoʻoponopono did your group:

…find easiest to use in resolving your conflict?

…find most challenging to use in resolving your conflict?

…find the most useful in this workshop?

References

• DeKneef, M., 2016. How ho`oponopono can bring people together. Hawai`i Magazine. November 2016.

• Lee, P.J. 2007. The Hawaiian way to put things back in balance. Honolulu, HI: IM Publishers.

• Lee, P.J.& Willis, K. 1990. Tales from the night rainbow. Honolulu, HI. Night Rainbow Publishers.

• Phillips, F.P., 2011. Alternatives to interest-based problem-solving: Hoʻoponopono. Business Conflict Blog. March 2011.

• Pukui, M..K. 2014, `983, Nānā i ke kumu: Look to the source. Honolulu, HI. Hui HānaiPublishers.

• Wall, J., & Callister, R.R. 1995. Hoʻoponopono: Some lessons from Hawaiian mediation. Article in Negotiation Journal. January 1995. DOIº 10.1111¯j.1571-9979.1995.tb00045.x

Mahalo e nui loa!

For further information:

Jane A. Schumacher Ed.D.

Lead Faculty Area Chair-Education

College of Doctoral Studies

University of Phoenix

Email: Jane.Schumacher@phoenix.edu

Office: 808-572-1787