Universal Healing Arts
Enlighten Your Mind, Heal Your Body and Nourish Your Soul
Ho'oponopono is a traditional Hawaiian practice centered on reconciliation, forgiveness, and restoring balance both within oneself and in relationships. The term itself translates to "to make right" or "to correct," reflecting its core purpose of correcting wrongs and facilitating harmony.
The story of Dr. Ihaleakala Hew Len is central to the modern popularization of Ho'oponopono. Dr. Hew Len was a psychologist at the Hawaii State Hospital in the 1980s, specifically in a high-security ward for the criminally insane. The patients in this ward were considered extremely dangerous and unmanageable, and the working environment was so negative that staff frequently called in sick, and turnover was high.
Instead of providing direct therapy to the patients, Dr. Hew Len reportedly never met with them face-to-face. Instead, he would review each patient's medical file and, while doing so, apply the Ho'oponopono process to himself. He would repeat this Hawaiian prayer.
He explained that this was aimed at healing the part of himself that shared responsibility for what appeared in his reality—even the illnesses or violence of his patients.
Over a period of about four years, remarkable changes were reported:
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Patients who had been shackled were allowed to walk freely.
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Medication was reduced or discontinued for many patients.
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Staff absenteeism dropped, morale improved dramatically, and eventually, many previously hopeless cases were released.
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The overall atmosphere shifted from dangerous and tense to peaceful.
Dr. Hew Len attributed these improvements to his practice of Ho'oponopono, emphasizing total responsibility for one’s experiences. By “cleaning” or healing himself, he believed positive change would manifest in his environment and patients.
This account was brought to wider public attention primarily through Dr. Joe Vitale, who learned from Dr. Hew Len and later co-authored the book "Zero Limits," which details these events and their underlying philosophy.
In summary, Dr. Hew Len’s story is foundational to the contemporary use of Ho'oponopono, blending personal transformation, radical responsibility, and forgiveness, and has been influential.