Ho’oponopono The Healing Power of Forgiveness
Dr. Ihaleakala Hew Len

In the 80s/90s, Dr. Ihaleakala Hew Len worked at Hawaii State Hospital and cured a complete ward of criminally insane patients in four years, without ever seeing any of them. The psychologist would study an inmate’s chart and then look within himself to see how he created that person’s illness. As he improved himself, the patient improved.

Dr. Ihaleakala Hew Len used a Hawaiian healing process called Ho‘oponopono.

Dr Joe Vitale, author of the book “Zero Limits”, writes about Dr. Ihaleakala Hew’s story:

Psychologists quit on a monthly basis. The staff called in sick a lot or simply quit. People would walk through that ward with their backs against the wall, afraid of being attacked by patients. It was not a pleasant place to live, work, or visit. Dr. Ihaleakala Hew never saw patients. He was given an office and in there he reviewed the patients’ files. While he looked at those files, he would work on himself. As he worked on himself, patients began to heal.

“After a few months, patients that had to be shackled were being allowed to walk freely. Others who had to be heavily medicated were getting off their medications. And those who had no chance of ever being released were being freed. The staff began to enjoy coming to work. Absenteeism and turnover disappeared. The hospital ended up with more staff than they needed because patients were being released, and all the staff was showing up to work. Today, that ward is closed.’

Dr Joe Vitale had to Dr. Ihaleakala Hew Len the million dollar question: ‘What were you doing within yourself that caused those people to change?‘.

Dr. Ihaleakala Hew Len replied:

“I was simply healing the part of me that created them. Dr. Len explained that total responsibility for your life means that everything in your life- simply because it is in your life–is your responsibility. In a literal sense the entire world is your creation.”

“Being responsible for what I say or do is one thing. Being responsible for what everyone in my life says or does is quite another. Yet, the truth is this: if you take complete responsibility for your life, then everything you see, hear, taste, touch, or in any way experience is your responsibility because it is in your life. This means that terrorist activity, the president, the economy or anything you experience and don’t like–is up for you to heal. They don’t exist, in a manner of speaking, except as projections from inside you.

The problem isn’t with them, it’s with you, and to change them, you have to change you.

“I know this is tough to grasp, let alone accept or actually live. Blame is far easier than total responsibility, but as I spoke with Dr. Len, I began to realize that healing for him and in Ho ‘oponopono means loving yourself. “If you want to improve your life, you have to heal your life. If you want to cure anyone, even a mentally ill criminal you do it by healing you.

Dr Joe Vitale asked Dr. Len how he went about healing himself. What was he doing, exactly, when he looked at those patients’ files?

“‘I just kept saying, ‘I’m sorry’ and ‘I love you’ over and over again,’ he explained.

Ho'oponopono
Ho’oponopono
Hoʻoponopono Healing Process

The Hawaiian word Ho’oponopono comes from ho’o (“to make”) and pono (“right”). The repetition of the word pono means “doubly right” or being right with both self and others. In a nutshell, Ho’oponopono is a process by which we can forgive others to whom we are connected.

Hoʻ’oponopono is “mental cleansing”, to make right, correct, adjust and amend. Similar forgiveness practices are performed in other Pacific Islands, including New Zealand by the Polynesian settlers, the Maoris.

The Ho’oponopono healing process works on RepentanceForgivenessGratitude, and Love.

Practice Ho’oponopono by repeating the following words:

I am sorry

Please forgive me

Thank you

I love you

Say these words with meaning and feeling multiple times during your day and notice how you feel.

Reiki And Hoʻoponopono
Reiki And Hoʻ’oponopono

Reiki (pronounced Ray-key) is a Japanese name consisting of two words Rei and Ki meaning spiritually guided life energy (commonly known as Universal Life Energy), an energy which animates us all and is found all around us. Reiki has its roots in a variety of Japanese spirit oriented philosophies, such as Buddhism, Shinto, and Shugendo.

Reiki when combined with any other healing modality works wonders. We can combine Reiki with the Ho’oponopono process, bringing together healing energy with the power of forgiveness, love and gratitude.

> How To Combine Reiki And Ho’oponopono


Giancarlo is a fully accredited Holy Fire® III, Karuna Reiki® Master Teacher, Past Life Regression Therapist, Spiritual Healer and a Consultant Healer of the College of Psychic Studies in London.

Click here to read more about Giancarlo Serra