Ho‘oponopono
Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2026 1:54 am
Short answer: **yes — Ho‘oponopono *can* be a prayer**, but it’s more accurate to say it’s a **practice** that *includes* prayer.
A bit more nuance:
### Traditionally (Native Hawaiian context)
**Ho‘oponopono** literally means *“to make things right”* or *“to correct.”*
Traditionally, it’s a **communal reconciliation practice** used to restore harmony in relationships—between people, families, and the spiritual world.
In that traditional form:
* **Prayer is central** (often opening and closing prayers)
* It involves confession, forgiveness, discussion, and release
* It’s usually guided by a **kūpuna** (elder) or spiritual leader
So yes—**it includes prayer**, but it’s not *only* a prayer.
### Modern / popularized form
What many people today call Ho‘oponopono is the **individual meditative version**, often summarized by phrases like:
> *I’m sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you. I love you.*
In this context:
* It functions very much like a **personal prayer or mantra**
* It’s inward-facing, focused on healing, responsibility, and reconciliation
* Many people use it as a **spiritual prayer**, even outside Hawaiian religion
### So what is it, really?
Depending on context, Ho‘oponopono can be:
* A **ceremonial reconciliation ritual**
* A **spiritual healing practice**
* A **prayerful meditation**
* A **forgiveness mantra**
All of those are valid descriptions — what matters most is **how it’s used and understood**.
A bit more nuance:
### Traditionally (Native Hawaiian context)
**Ho‘oponopono** literally means *“to make things right”* or *“to correct.”*
Traditionally, it’s a **communal reconciliation practice** used to restore harmony in relationships—between people, families, and the spiritual world.
In that traditional form:
* **Prayer is central** (often opening and closing prayers)
* It involves confession, forgiveness, discussion, and release
* It’s usually guided by a **kūpuna** (elder) or spiritual leader
So yes—**it includes prayer**, but it’s not *only* a prayer.
### Modern / popularized form
What many people today call Ho‘oponopono is the **individual meditative version**, often summarized by phrases like:
> *I’m sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you. I love you.*
In this context:
* It functions very much like a **personal prayer or mantra**
* It’s inward-facing, focused on healing, responsibility, and reconciliation
* Many people use it as a **spiritual prayer**, even outside Hawaiian religion
### So what is it, really?
Depending on context, Ho‘oponopono can be:
* A **ceremonial reconciliation ritual**
* A **spiritual healing practice**
* A **prayerful meditation**
* A **forgiveness mantra**
All of those are valid descriptions — what matters most is **how it’s used and understood**.