The Heart of Aloha: Gratitude & Ho’oponopono

We are entering a time of year when much of the focus is on gratitude – the ability to see the moment and appreciate it just as it is.  Research shows the number one emotion that creates the greatest positive change in the body is – gratitude.  It even ranks higher than joy and love.  (On the Scale of Consciousness, it’s 700.)

Every thought you have and every word you speak carries its own tone or frequency. The most effective way I’ve learned to stay aligned with the reality I’m creating is by becoming aware of my own frequency.

Every reaction also has its own vibrational “signature.” If you respond at the same level as that vibration, the two frequencies blend and amplify each other. This is why, when you’re in a joyful state, the harmonics within you feel uplifting. People call this a “higher state of mind,” not because it’s literally higher, but because your thoughts and daily actions are attuned to a more elevated, harmonious vibration.

It’s less about having a “higher” mind and more about having a “harmonic” mind - one resonating with a balanced, orchestrated frequency. When you react to someone from an agitated or discordant place, your shared vibrations create an unpleasant resonance. Even if the bandwidth of energy is wide, the effect feels harsh, like nails on a chalkboard. Emotions work the same way, they are frequencies, and not all are pleasant to experience.

According to Patty Burgess of LifePath Learners (a death doula service): When you find yourself standing on the edge of change, here are 3 thoughts to hold close:

1. Your fear is a signal, not a stop sign - Fear doesn’t mean you’re unprepared or incapable. It simply means you’re stepping into something new. Let that fear guide you; it’s a sign you’re growing.

2. Your restlessness is a compass - That inner ache to do [doula] work isn’t random. It’s your intuition pointing toward your potential. Trust that feeling; it knows the way, even if the path feels unclear.

3. First steps create momentum - The hardest part is the inertia. Like when exercising - it isn't the hiking - it’s putting on your shoes and stepping out the door. Don’t worry about knowing everything; just focus on the next small step.

That’s why it matters to consciously choose what you want to resonate with inside yourself. Respond from your own tone and frequency. Anything that doesn’t align with you will either rise to meet your vibration or naturally fall away.

By observing your thoughts, you learn to deliberately select the frequencies you embody. In doing so, you become a harmonic match for the experiences, feelings, and creations you most want to bring into your life.

Everything is energy, vibrations exist in quantum mechanics, frequency is a real measurable property, but they’re often presented in non-scientific ways, which makes skeptics dismiss them and label them pseudoscience even though they’re very real concepts in physics.

There are still a lot of people that think energy, vibration & frequency (EVF) is nonsense.  But these same people believe in WiFi, they experience the effects of WiFi every day – it connects their phone, laptop & smart TV.  They believe in microwaves, x-rays, etc.  They trust it even if they don’t understand the science behind it.  But if used in more abstract or spiritual ways (crystals & astrology for example), people lump them into the “woo-woo” category unless they’ve had personal experiences that resonate.  Therein lies the lack of awareness & hypocrisy of EVF.

Just like you can’t see Wifi, you can’t see ATP.  We have ATP (Adenosine TriPhosphate) molecules in every cell that fuels our body.  It’s invisible but it’s literally your body’s version of electricity; it’s your body’s energy current.  Think of it as a charged battery that powers everything from blinking your eyes to your heartbeat. 

Our heart is a non-stop energy machine.  Every contraction needs ATP to pump blood through your body.  The heart even has its own electromagnetic field that radiates around the body like an invisible donut of energy spinning around you.  Every time the heart beats, it creates an electrical signal (measurable by an ECG).  That electrical activity generates a magnetic field which is 60-100 times stronger than the brain’s and can be measured several feet outside the body.  Why is it such a big jump to believe we are energy?  Because we’ve been conditioned to believe it is nonsense.  We’ve been fed this narrative. 

Once you understand that literally everything is energy, it’s impossible not to recognize it.

“When we honor the energy within and around us with a grateful heart, we co-create peace and harmony in our relationships and in the world.”

When you realize the heart is not just a pump but a living energy field, producing measurable electrical and magnetic signals that extend well beyond the body, it becomes easier to see how our inner state affects the world around us. Just as the heart’s rhythm can synchronize with another person’s heartbeat, our thoughts and emotions radiate and interact with the energy fields of others.

In Hawaiian tradition, Ho‘oponopono works directly with this principle. It’s a practice of forgiveness, release, and reconciliation that treats memories, emotions, and conflicts as vibrations within and around us.   I first mentioned this practice in Sept 2020’s musings.

By speaking its simple phrases of gratitude & love, we release those vibrations, like tuning the heart’s energetic instrument, so our inner field becomes coherent again, and the harmony ripples outward into our relationships and environment.

Originally rooted in Hawaiian culture, Ho‘oponopono was a traditional method for resolving disputes & misunderstandings and reestablishing balance within families or communities.  At its heart, it’s about reconciliation and personal responsibility - acknowledging one’s own thoughts, emotions, and actions to create harmony within oneself and in relationships with others.

Ho’o means to make.  Pono meaning right, but it’s used twice – ponopono.   Meaning “to make things right” or “to correct”.  Ho’oponopono encourages responsibility and believes in divine intervention.  Resolving conflicts and healing emotional wounds with the ancestors or your personal relationships.

In the 20th century, Ho‘oponopono evolved from a communal ritual into a personal practice. Morrnah Simeona, a renowned Hawaiian healer (kahuna lapa‘au), restructured the tradition so individuals could use it on their own, without the presence of a group or facilitator. This shift opened the door for Ho‘oponopono to spread worldwide as a self-help and healing method.

The practice often uses a simple mantra to help release negativity and “make things right.”  In its modern form, the practice centers on repeating four simple phrases — “I’m sorry, Please forgive me, Thank you, I love you” — as a way to take responsibility, clear inner conflicts, and cultivate peace within.  Today it has spread globally and is embraced as a tool for self-healing and personal growth.  Link to this is a beautiful musical rendition.

My friend, James Kawainui, who is a Hawaiian Healer, clarified the Ho’oponopono that was practiced in old Hawaii is a little different than the current arrangement of I love you, please forgive me, etc.  Contrary to popular belief, Ho’oponopono was not about forgiveness, the definition is “to correct”.

Traditionally, Ho‘oponopono was an ancestral reconciliation that took the form of a group ceremony led by an elder or spiritual healer, known as a kahuna.  Everyone affected by a conflict would participate.  Participants would express emotions openly and work through challenges together. This communal approach reflected Hawaiian values of unity, open communication, and restoring harmony.

The first known use of the word appeared in the first Hawaiian newspaper, published in 1834.  Defined in the Hawaiian dictionary as “to put to rights; to put in order or shape, correct, revise, adjust, amend, regulate, arrange, rectify, tidy up, make orderly or neat, administer, superintend, supervise, manage, edit, work carefully and healthy.”  Its origins can be traced back to the ancient belief systems of the Hawaiian people, who saw the world as interconnected and infused with spiritual energy, or "mana."

In Hawaiian mythology, the concept of "mana" plays a crucial role in understanding ho'oponopono.  Mana is a divine force that permeates all things, connecting individuals to the spiritual realm. It is believed that when relationships are disrupted or imbalances arise, it is because the flow of mana has been disrupted.

In traditional Hawaiian culture, the role of kahuna was paramount in guiding the practice of ho'oponopono. Kahunas were not simply healers, but spiritual leaders and keepers of ancient knowledge and traditions. They possessed a deep understanding of the interconnectedness of life, the flow of mana, and the power of forgiveness.

Ho'oponopono acts as a bridge to reconnect individuals to this vital energy, restoring harmony and balance.  It says, I am creating everything I see.  Our outer reality is a reflection of our inner reality.  As within, so without.

We are “seeing” this ugliness out there because it lives in here – within.  We see it in the polarization of politics with the Democrats versus Republicans; the hatred we are invoking with each other.  We are facing the ugliness of what we created & reconciling that.  You can speak your truth without blame & judgment.  We need to stop the process.  We need to hold unconditional love.  Applying Ho’oponopono could foster genuine dialogue, where opposing parties acknowledge their contributions to conflict and work toward reconciliation instead of blame.  In an increasingly polarized environment, Hawaiian traditions can serve as a guiding principle for collaboration, seeing opponents not as enemies but as fellow humans with shared values.

Viewed through Ho’oponopono, it’s I’m sorry for creating this, the mis-creation (acknowledging responsibility).  Please forgive me (pono is the reconciliation, right relation, restoring harmony).  Thank you (gratitude) for making me aware of what I’ve created; for waking me up out of the illusion, mis-perception.  I love you (ultimate compassionate action); Love is the neutralizer of everything – everything dark or light.  Then it can be transformed through me and then it gets transformed. 

As we practice Ho‘oponopono, we begin to open our hearts, releasing the old stories and tensions that cloud our connection to others. In clearing our inner and outer relationships, something softer and deeper begins to arise — the spirit of Aloha. More than just a greeting, Aloha is a way of being, a frequency of love, compassion, and respect that flows through all things. Where Ho‘oponopono heals and harmonizes, Aloha blossoms as the natural expression of that harmony.  Together, they form a complete cycle of healing, connection, and mindful living in the Hawaiian tradition.

ALOHA

A few years ago, I took a workshop on Huna - Hawaiian Shamanism.  In some modern interpretations, ALOHA is expanded as an acronym using deeper Hawaiian concepts to capture its full spiritual and relational meaning. There is a beautiful parallel between Hawaiian wisdom (ALOHA/Ho’oponopono) and Yoga philosophy (Yamas & Niyamas of Patanjali’s Eight Limbs of Yoga).  Yamas are about how we interact with the world.  Niyamas are how we cultivate ourselves internally.  ALOHA is a code of conduct, a way of acting.  Both traditions emphasize inner work – mindfulness, integrity and self-awareness.  The ultimate goal being connection & harmony.

Let’s break down each component:

A = AO

L = LOKAHI

O = OIAIO

H = HA'A HA'A

A = ALOHA               

A = AO

Awareness/Consciousness.  This would parallel Svadhyaya (self-study). Both emphasize mindfulness, self-awareness, self-reflection, and understanding the interconnectedness of self, others, and the universe.  Observe without distraction, listening more than speaking. True awareness comes from taking in what’s happening around you and discerning when it is appropriate to act or speak.

L = LOKAHI

Oneness/Unity. Oneness among us. All is one. Oneness requires being PONO and ONE with everybody.  In yoga, this would be ahimsa (non-violence), asteya (non-stealing) and aparigraha (non-possessiveness). All concepts that focus on living harmoniously with others, creating balance, ethical interactions, and avoiding exploitation.

O = OIAIO

Truth/Integrity.  Tell the truth.  Satya is Truthfulness.  Both stress honesty in thought, word, and action.  Most of us are too polite to speak the truth to one another, and in doing so, we limit our full participation in the co-creation of our Universe. To withhold is to separate; to conceal is to block connection. Without full honesty, we cannot experience true Oneness. Withholding anything prevents us from fully connecting with others.  Truth must be wielded carefully.

H = HA'A HA'A

Humility/Respect.  Be humble. Humility is embedded in many Niyamas, but Santosha or contentment applies here.  Both cultivate respect, humility, and acceptance, reducing ego-driven behaviors.  HA is everywhere in Hawaii – aloHA, maHAlo, HAwaii, HAlawa Valley, etc.  As part of ALOHA, HA not only means breath which possesses mana (spiritual power) but also represents shared breath and is a symbol of connection.  In greeting one another, two people press their foreheads together while inhaling.  The sharing of oxygen, of life, represents the exchange of HA.  It welcomes the other person into their space by sharing the breath of life, which is sacred to the culture.

A = ALOHA

Love/Compassion.  ALO means “in the presence of” and HA means the breath of life.  Ahimsa is a yama (ethical code) in the Yoga Sutras.  The traditional translation of ahimsa is non-violence; however, its true intention is doing everything from a place of love.  Himsa is violence.  However, putting the “A” before it is a negation of that violence.  Why use the word violence?  Both Aloha & Ahimsa directly align with love toward all beings.  This is absolute, unconditional love.  The moment you believe you are better than someone else - when you make comparisons or judgments - you distance yourself from true Love.  In that instant, you step away from the divine spark within, the pure essence of spirit and the unconditional love that connects us all.  The niyama Isvarapranidhana translates to surrendering to higher consciousness (isvara) and recognition of our interconnectedness.  It’s about letting go of ego to align with the divine.  To live with Aloha is to embody unconditional love (love in action).  To practice isvarapranidhana is to offer that love back to the Divine, trusting the flow of life (surrender).  And both see breath as a bridge to Spirit.

Aloha translates naturally into practical, relational principles, while yogic Yamas & Niyamas offer a broader spiritual-philosophical foundation.  Both teach that ethical self-development leads to ethical interactions, creating more compassionate communities or even governance systems.  Whether that’s Spirit (mana) in Hawaiian culture or Īśvara (Divine consciousness) in yoga, both encourage living in harmony with a greater force.

As our inner power grows through awareness, discipline, and mastery, our potential to influence reality, others, and ourselves increases.  With this growth comes the need for careful use of words, thoughts, and actions. Every small act carries greater impact.  True mastery or “total power” is paradoxical; it manifests as effortless restraint, humility, and alignment rather than domination or force.

“A grateful heart is a magnet for miracles”

~ Anonymous

There is no religious, patriotic or ideological barrier that intrinsically separates any one of us from being able to understand and share the magic and majesty of holding a grateful heart.

By practicing Ho‘oponopono, we begin the work of clearing our inner energy, taking responsibility for our thoughts, emotions, and actions, and restoring harmony within ourselves and our relationships. This inner cleansing naturally opens the heart, allowing the spirit of Aloha to flow freely.

To live with Aloha is to move through the world with an open heart — offering compassion without expectation, extending care without limit, and honoring the interconnectedness of everything. When we embody Aloha, our thoughts, words, and actions become a blessing, shaping the spaces we enter and uplifting those we touch.

Each moment of the day is an opportunity to go inward to experience and express our gratitude for what we have in life – great or small.  Finding our connection with gratitude can transform a feeling of hopelessness into a moment of grace. 

The world is a mirror, forever reflecting what you are creating within yourself.  So always radiate love, light and peace.  So much love and harmony from me to you!!   Aloha.  Have a great-FULL and grateful day!

#Gratitude #Aloha #Hooponopono #Huna #Mana #Ha #YamasNiyamas