The kupuna taught that it is important to seek and to maintain pono, (balance), with everything in one's life, including harmony with the land we live on, the food we eat, with oneself and with all other people. In the ancient social structure of the Hawaiian people pono required conscious effort at the individual and social levels of inter-dependant living. Constraints on behavior took the form of sacred restricting taboos, or kapu, and were established by the kahuna, sanctioned by the ali'I, and enforced by all for the common good.

Everyone was expected to practice self-discipline, respect for all living things, and to take personal responsibility for the care and preservation of the resources of the land for subsequent generations. This was called aloha 'ania, love of the land, or malama 'ania, care for the land.

The imbalance of mana, or the loss of pono, for whatever reasons, resulted in misfortune, such as "accidents", interpersonal and social conflicts, and physical, mental, and spiritual illness. When these events took place, the person needed to seek the causes of these events through introspection and prayer, (pule) and by seeking the counsel of a kapuna within the family. If the causes or cures could not be found within the 'ohana the afflicted person would seek the assistance of a priest/doctor/expert of medicine, or kahuna.

In the traditional Hawaiian culture sickness was a family matter, both in its cause and in its cure. The practice of ho'oponopono was a family matter, involving all members of the 'ohana. This practice recognizes the mutual inter-dependence that a person has with his or her family and embraces the mutual help component which is integral to the 'ohana.

Ho'opnopono is a Spiritual practice which was nearly lost in the last few generations. It is a precisely structured traditional family health maintenance procedure in which discordant family conflicts and problems are resolved through pule, discussion, confession, repentance, and mutual restitution, forgiveness, release and severance. Its overall goal is to "set things right", to correct and restore pono among family members.

Ho'oponopono is also a personal practice. In this form the individual makes a daily practice of stopping whatever activity they are involved in and consciously forgiving everyone, including themselves, for whatever failures or wrongs may have occurred during the day. This practice is frequently performed at sundown as a way to end the day with a right heart.

Aunty Margaret teaches that at the end of the work day it is good to pause. Take a steam bath interrupted by a series of cold showers to flush your system. As you cleanse your body cleanse your heart and mind of anger and negative thoughts. Slow down your emotions so that you can enjoy your evening meal and sleep soundly through the night.

"...do not let the sun go down on your anger." Ephesians 4:26