hoʻoponopono a hawaiian ‘ohana process for resolving
TRANSCRIPT
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: [email protected]
Office: 808-572-1787
